TiN nanoparticles: small size-selected fabrication and their quantum size effect

Abstract

Size-selected TiN nanoclusters in the range of 4 to 20 nm have been produced by an ionized cluster beam, which combines a glow-discharge sputtering with an inert gas condensation technique. With this method, by controlling the experimental conditions, it was possible to produce nanoparticles with a high control in size. The size distribution of TiN nanoparticles was determined before deposition by mass spectroscopy and confirmed by atomic force microscopy. The size distribution was also analyzed using a high-resolution transmission electron micrograph. The photoluminescence [PL] spectra of TiN nanoparticles at different sizes were also experimentally investigated. We reported, for the first time, the strong visible luminescence of TiN nanoparticles on Si (111) wafer due to the reduced size. We also discussed the PL intensity as a function of the nanoparticle size distribution.

Preparation and characterization of nanostructured titanium nitride thin films at room temperature

“…This is characterized by hardness values exceeding 24.7 GPa [4], this property is highly exploited in industry where you need coating materials or objects such as drills, bone implants, nails, blades and bearings under extreme working conditions [6,8,9]. TiN despite is being one of the first synthetic hard coatings whose mechanical properties has been widely reported in the literature for thicknesses in the order of micrometers [9], continue to be studied as shown in current research [10][11][12], this interest is due to the emergence of novel properties at the nanoscale that opens a range of new applications.…”

Refractory Plasmonics of Reactively Sputtered Hafnium Nitride Nanoparticles: Pushing Limits

“…Our present study aims to offer a new approach to the synthesis of HfN NPs, which is based on reactive magnetron sputtering of Hf under elevated pressure of Ar/N 2 mixtures in the configuration of a gas aggregation cluster source, similar to our previous works. [ 32–34 ] A similar approach, involving cluster beam deposition techniques, was previously reported by Mainet et al [ 35 ] for a size‐selected synthesis of photoluminescent TiN NPs as well as by Reinholdt et al. [ 36 ] for plasmonic ZrN NPs.…”

“…Our present study aims to offer a new approach to the synthesis of HfN NPs, which is based on reactive magnetron sputtering of Hf under elevated pressure of Ar/N 2 mixtures in the configuration of a gas aggregation cluster source, similar to our previous works. [32][33][34] A similar approach, involving cluster beam deposition techniques, was previously reported by Mainet et al [35] for a size-selected synthesis of photoluminescent TiN NPs as well as by Reinholdt et al [36] for plasmonic ZrN NPs. A brief summary of thermal stability of most common plasmonic TMNs prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering and cluster beam deposition methods is given in Table 1 to reflect the current state of art and to underline the importance of the subject.…”

Progress in optical properties of chiral metal clusters: circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence

“…5 However, as the size of metal clusters approaches the Fermi wavelength of metals, the continuous band of energy levels becomes discrete, resulting in unique molecule-like optical behavior. 6,7 To explain the electron transition processes and the subsequent emission of small metal clusters, Link et al proposed an improved energy band structure model that attributes the related process to the intra-(sp-sp) and inter-band (sp-d) transitions. 8 Furthermore, various organic ligands can affect the orbital energy levels of metal clusters, altering the electron distribution in each part and allowing modulation of their optical properties.…”