D. Babonneau et al., Morphology of encapsulated iron nanoparticles obtained by co-sputtering and implantation: a GISAXS study, J APPL CRYS, 33(1), 2000, pp. 437-441
A grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) study is presente
d on the morphology of iron nanoparticles buried in carbon matrices, obtain
ed either by ion-beam sputtering co-deposition or by ion-implantation. It i
s shown that, depending on the experimental synthesis conditions, the shape
of the iron nanoparticles is either spherical or elongated perpendicularly
to the substrate. The possible growth mechanisms are examined in terms of
volume and surface diffusion, defect density, interfacial energy and residu
al stress.