Hybrid films of Co - C60 preparation and changes induced by external stimuli

TL;DR

This study explores the synthesis and modification of Co-C60 hybrid films using innovative co-deposition and external stimuli, analyzing their structural, morphological, and electrical changes for potential applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel co-deposition method for Co-C60 films and systematically investigates the effects of various external stimuli on their properties.

Findings

External stimuli induce significant morphological and structural changes.

Treatments affect electrical resistance, indicating potential for device applications.

Ion-beam analysis and microscopy reveal detailed modifications in film composition and structure.

Abstract

In this work, we report on the study on organic-metal hybrid systems, in particular Co-C60 fullerene thin films. This study mainly focused on the investigation of the morphological and structural evolution of the film surface after various external stimuli designed to provide energy to the system. For film growth, we adopted an innovative approach, combining ion-beam sputtering of a pure metal target with thermal evaporation of C60 in a co-deposition setup. The films underwent a series of treatments to induce modifications. Laser and ion irradiations were performed using a pulsed laser, a continuous Ar beam, and a pulsed C beam. In addition, thermal annealing in vacuum was performed to examine the long-term effects of temperature. The composition of deposited film was investigated using Ion Beam Analysis, the morphology and the structure, and the effects of treatments on the films were studied using SEM and TEM microscopies and Raman spectroscopy. Changes in electrical resistance were also measured to explore potential applications of these films after treatment.