Variation of Surface Nanostructures on (100) PbS Single Crystals during Argon Plasma Treatment

Abstract

The nanostructuring of the (100) PbS single crystal surface was studied under varying argon plasma treatment conditions. The initial PbS single crystals were grown by high-pressure vertical zone melting, cut into wafer samples, and polished. Subsequently, the PbS single crystals were treated with inductively coupled argon plasma under varying treatment parameters such as ion energy and sputtering time. Plasma treatment with ions at a minimum energy of 25 eV resulted in the formation of nanotips with heights of 30–50 nm. When the ion energy was increased to 75–200 eV, two types of structures formed on the surface: high submicron cones and arrays of nanostructures with various shapes. In particular, the 120 s plasma treatment formed specific cruciform nanostructures with lateral orthogonal elements oriented in four <100> directions. In contrast, plasma treatment with an ion energy of 75 eV for 180 s led to the formation of submicron quasi-spherical lead structures with diameters of 250–600 nm. The nanostructuring mechanisms included a surface micromasking mechanism with lead formation and the vapor–liquid–solid mechanism, with liquid lead droplets acting as self-forming micromasks and growth catalysts depending on the plasma treatment conditions (sputtering time and rate).

Plasmon‐Assisted Operando Self‐Healing of Cu2O Photocathodes

“…Argon plasma is commonly used to provide a hydrophilic character to metallic surfaces, improving adhesion between ancillary layers during thin films processing. Furthermore, plasma treatment promotes the formation of nanostructures on surfaces of different materials (polymers, [9] copper indium gallium selenide, [10] lead sulphide, [11] and halide perovskites [12] ) for several applications. In particular, when treating with Argon plasma the surface of metallic or metal containing films, nanocrystals (NCs) with plasmonic features due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) can be generated, paving the way to the integration of plasmonic properties within the treated scaffolds.…”