| 1. |
- Alling, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Configurational disorder effects on adatom mobilities on Ti1-xAlxN(001) surfaces from first principles
- 2012
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Ingår i: Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. - : american physical society. - 1098-0121 .- 1550-235X. ; 85:24, s. 245422-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We use metastable NaCl-structure Ti0.5Al0.5N alloys to probe effects of configurational disorder on adatom surface diffusion dynamics which control phase stability and nanostructural evolution during film growth. First-principles calculations were employed to obtain energy potential maps of Ti and Al adsorption on an ordered TiN(001) reference surface and a disordered Ti0.5Al0.5N(001) solid-solution surface. The energetics of adatom migration on these surfaces are determined and compared to isolate effects of configurational disorder. The results show that alloy surface disorder dramatically reduces Ti adatom mobilities. Al adatoms, in sharp contrast, experience only small disorder-induced differences in migration dynamics.
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| 2. |
- Tholander, Christopher, 1986-
(författare)
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A Theoretical Study of Piezoelectricity, Phase Stability, and Surface Diffusion in Disordered Multicomponent Nitrides
- 2014
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Disordered multicomponent nitride thin film can be used for various applications. The focus of this Licentiate Thesis lies on the theoretical study of piezoelectric properties, phase stability and surface diffusion in multifunctional hard coating nitrides using density functional theory (DFT).Piezoelectric thin films show great promise for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), such as surface acoustic wave resonators or energy harvesters. One of the main benefits of nitride based piezoelectric devices is the much higher thermal stability compared to the commonly used lead zirconate titanate (PZT) based materials. This makes the nitride based material more suitable for application in, e.g., jet engines.The discovery that alloying AlN with ScN can increase the piezoelectric response more than 500% due to a phase competition between the wurtzite phase in AlN and the hexagonal phase in ScN, provides a fundamental basis for constructing highly responsive piezoelectric thin films. This approach was utilized on the neighboring nitride binaries, where ScN or YN was alloyed with AlN, GaN, or InN. It established the general role of volume matching the binaries to easily achieve a structural instability in order to obtain a maximum increase of the piezoelectric response. For Sc0.5Ga0.5N this increase is more than 900%, compared to GaN. Y1-xInxN is, however, the most promising alloy with the highest resulting piezoelectric response seconded only by Sc0.5Al0.5N.Phase stability and lattice parameters (stress-strain states) of the Y1-xAlxN alloy have been calculated in combination with experimental synthesis.Hard protective coatings based on nitride thin films have been used in industrial applications for a long time. Two of the most successful coatings are TiN and the metastable Ti1-xAlxN. Although these two materials have been extensively investigated both experimentally and theoretically, at the atomic level little is known about Ti1-xAlxN diffusion properties. This is in large part due to problems with configurational disorder in the alloy, because Ti and Al atoms are placed randomly at cation positions in the lattice, considerably increasing the complexity of the problem. To deal with this issues, we have used special quasi-random structure (SQS) models, as well as studying dilute concentrations of Al.One of the most important mechanisms related to the growth of Ti1-xAlxN is surface diffusion. Because Ti1-xAlxN is a metastable material it has to be grown as a thin film with methods such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), in which surface diffusion plays a pivotal role in determining the microstructure evolution of the film.In this work, the surface energetics and mobility of Ti and Al adatoms on a disordered Ti0.5Al0.5N(001) surface are studied. Also the effects on the adatom energetics of Ti, Al, and N by the substitution of one Ti with an Al surface atom in TiN(001), TiN(011), and TiN(111) surfaces is studied. This provides an indepth atomistic understanding of how the energetics behind surface diffusion changes as TiN transitions into Ti0.5Al0.5N.The investigations revealed many interesting results. i) That Ti adatom mobilities are dramatically reduced on the TiN and Ti0.5Al0.5N(001) surfaces while Al adatoms are largely unaffected. ii) The reverse effect is found on the TiN(111) surface, Al adatom migration is reduced while Ti adatom migration is unaffected. iii) The magnetic spin polarization of Ti adatoms is shown to have an important effect on binding energies and diffusion path, e.g., the adsorption energy at bulk sites is increased by 0.14 eV.
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| 3. |
- Tholander, Christopher, et al.
(författare)
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Ab initio calculations and experimental study of piezoelectric YxIn1-xN thin films deposited using reactive magnetron sputter epitaxy
- 2016
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Ingår i: Acta Materialia. - : Elsevier. - 1359-6454 .- 1873-2453. ; 105, s. 199-206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- By combining theoretical prediction and experimental verification we investigate the piezoelectric properties of yttrium indium nitride (YxIn1-xN). Ab initio calculations show that the YxIn1-xN wurtzite phase is lowest in energy among relevant alloy structures for 0≤x≤0.5. Reactive magnetron sputter epitaxy was used to prepare thin films with Y content up to x=0.51. The composition dependence of the lattice parameters observed in the grown films is in agreement with that predicted by the theoretical calculations confirming the possibility to synthesize a wurtzite solid solution. An AlN buffer layer greatly improves the crystalline quality and surface morphology of subsequently grown YxIn1-xN films. The piezoelectric response in films with x=0.09 and x=0.14 is observed using piezoresponse force microscopy. Theoretical calculations of the piezoelectric properties predict YxIn1−xN to have comparable piezoelectric properties to ScxAl1-xN.
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| 4. |
- Tholander, Christopher, 1986-, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of Al substitution on Ti, Al, and N adatom dynamics on TiN(001), (011), and (111) surfaces
- 2014
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Ingår i: Surface Science. - : Elsevier. - 0039-6028 .- 1879-2758. ; 630, s. 28-40
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Substituting Al for Ti in TiN(001), TiN(011), and N- and Ti-terminated TiN(111) surfaces has significant effects on adatom surface energetics which vary strongly with the adatom species and surface orientation. Here, we investigate Ti, Al, and N adatom surface dynamics using density functional methods. We calculate adatom binding and diffusion energies with both a nudged elastic band and grid-probing techniques. The adatom diffusivities are analyzed within a transition-state theory approximation. We determine the stable and metastable Ti, Al, and N binding sites on all three surfaces as well as the lowest energy migration paths. In general, adatom mobilities are fastest on TiN(001), slower on TiN(111), and slowest on TiN(011). The introduction of Al has two major effects on the surface diffusivity of Ti and Al adatoms. First, Ti adatom diffusivity on TiN(001) is significantly reduced near substituted Al surface atoms; we observe a 200% increase in Ti adatom diffusion barriers out of fourfold hollow sites adjacent to Al surface atoms, while Al adatom diffusivity between bulk sites is largely unaffected. Secondly, on TiN(111), the effect is opposite; Al adatoms are slowed near the substituted Al surface atom, while Ti adatom diffusivity is largely unaffected. In addition, we note the importance of magnetic spin polarization on Ti adatom binding energies and diffusion path. These results are of relevance for the atomistic understanding of Ti1-xAlxN alloy and Ti1-xAlxN/TiN multilayer thin-film growth processes.
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| 5. |
- Tholander, Christopher, et al.
(författare)
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Large piezoelectric response of quarternary wurtzite nitride alloys and its physical origin from first principles
- 2015
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Ingår i: Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 1098-0121 .- 1550-235X. ; 92:17, s. 174119-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The potential of quarternary wurtzite TMx/2Mx/2Al1-xN (TM = Ti, Zr, Hf; M = Mg, Ca, Zn) alloys for piezoelectric applications is investigated using first-principles calculations. All considered alloys show increased piezoelectric response compared to pure AlN, and competing with the best ternary system proven to date: ScAlN. (Zr, Hf)(x/2)(Mg, Ca)(x/2)Al1-xN alloys are particularly promising. Calculations reveal positive mixing enthalpies indicative for phase separating systems; their values are smaller compared to related nitride alloys, which still can be grown as metastable thin films. The wurtzite phase of the alloys is lowest in energy at least up to x = 0.5 and for Tix/2Znx/2Al1-xN in the full composition range. Moreover, calculations reveal that wurtzite TM0.5Zn0.5N (TM = Ti, Zr, Hf) are piezoelectric alloys with d(33,f) = 19.95, 29.89, and 24.65 pC/N respectively, up to six times that of AlN. Finally, we discuss the physical origin behind the increased piezoelectric response and show that the energy difference between tetrahedrally coordinated zinc-blende (B3) and the layered hexagonal (B-k) phases of the TM0.5M0.5N alloy can be used as a descriptor in a high-throughput search for complex wurtzite alloys with high piezoelectric response.
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| 6. |
- Tholander, Christopher, 1986-
(författare)
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Piezoelectricity, Phase Stability, and Surface Diffusion in Multicomponent Nitrides
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The last hundred years have been full of scientific discoveries leading to technological advances, such as, computers, smart phones, etc. Most of the advances would not have been possible without new discoveries within the vast field of materials science. The specific area within materials science covered in this thesis is multicomponent nitride alloys, which are commonly used as thin films in industrial applications, e.g., as hard wear-resistant coatings for cutting-tools or as part of intricate electronic components in mobile telecommunication devices. The core of this thesis is towards the fundamental understanding of existing, and the discovery of new, nitride alloys using theoretical tools. Knowledge about the quantum mechanics of the alloys was gained using density functional theory, alloy theory, and thermodynamics investigating piezoelectricity, phase stability, and surface diffusion.The focus of the piezoelectricity research is on piezoelectric properties of both ordered and disordered nitrides. The exploration of disordered wurtzite nitrides revealed important aspects of the nitride alloying physics and the implications for their piezoelectric response, in addition to the discovery of interesting alloy candidates and their synthesis, e.g., YxIn1-xN. For the ordered nitrides, novel TMZnN2 (TM = Ti, Zr, Hf) structures with high piezoelectric responses have been predicted as stable.The focus of the piezoelectricity research is on piezoelectric properties of both ordered and disordered nitrides. The exploration of disordered wurtzite nitrides revealed important aspects of the nitride alloying physics and the implications for their piezoelectric response, in addition to the discovery of interesting alloy candidates and their synthesis, e.g., YxIn1-xN. For the ordered nitrides, novel TMZnN2 (TM = Ti, Zr, Hf) structures with high piezoelectric responses have been predicted as stable.The thermodynamic stability of novel alloys with interesting properties is investigated in order to determine if equilibrium or non-equilibrium synthesis is feasible. The studies consist of ternary phase diagrams of TM-Zn-N, mixing enthalpies for disordered YxAl1-xN and YxIn1-xN that can be used to predict possible synthesis routes and guide experiments. In addition, mixing enthalpies for strained ScxAl1-xN/InyAl1-yN superlattices show that the stability of certain phases and, therefore, the crystalline quality can be improved by modifying in-plane lattice parameters through higher indium content in the InAlN layers.Surface diffusion is studied because it is an important factor during thin film growth with, for example, physical vapor deposition. It is the main atomic transport mechanism and, thus, governs the structure development of thin films. Specifically, the research is focused on diffusion on the surfaces of disordered alloys, and in particular Ti, Al, and N adatom diffusion on TiN and TiAlN surfaces. The investigations revealed that Ti adatom mobilities are dramatically reduced in the presence of Al in the surface layer on the TiN and Ti0.5Al0.5N(0 0 1) surfaces, while Al adatoms are largely unaffected. Furthermore, the reverse effect is found on the TiN(1 1 1) surface, Al adatom migration is reduced while Ti adatom migration is unaffected. In addition, it is shown that neglecting the magnetic spin polarization of Ti adatoms will locally underestimate the binding energies and the diffusion path, e.g., underestimating the stability of TiN(0 0 1) bulk sites.
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| 7. |
- Tholander, Christopher, et al.
(författare)
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Strong piezoelectric response in stable TiZnN2, ZrZnN2, and HfZnN2 found by ab initio high-throughput approach
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Physics. - : AMER INST PHYSICS. - 0021-8979 .- 1089-7550. ; 120:22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The phase diagrams of the Ti-Zn-N, Zr-Zn-N, and Hf-Zn-N systems are determined using large-scale high-throughput density functional calculations. Thermodynamically stable ordered phases of TiZnN2, ZrZnN2, and HfZnN2 have been found to be promising candidates in piezoelectric devices/applications for energy harvesting. The identified stable phase of TiZnN2 is an ordered wurtzite superstructure, and the stable phases of ZrZnN2 and HfZnN2 have a layered structure with alternating tetrahedral ZnN and octahedral (Zr, Hf)N layers. All of the TMZnN2 (TM = Ti, Zn, Hf) structures exhibit electronic bandgaps and large piezoelectric constants, d(33)(TiZnN2) = 14.21; d(24)(ZrZnN2) = -26.15, and d(24)(HfZnN2) = -21.99 pC/N. The strong piezoelectric responses and their thermodynamical stability make materials with these phases promising candidates for piezoelectric applications. Published by AIP Publishing.
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| 8. |
- Tholander, Christopher, et al.
(författare)
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Volume matching condition to establish the enhanced piezoelectricity in ternary (Sc,Y)0.5(Al,Ga,In)0.5N alloys
- 2013
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Ingår i: Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. - : American Physical Society. - 1098-0121 .- 1550-235X. ; 87:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently, ScAlN alloys attracted attention for their giant piezoelectric moduli. In this study the piezoelectric response of the wurtzite group-III nitrides AlN, GaN, and InN mixed with 50 mol% of ScN or YN is investigated using ab initio calculations. We confirm that the energy flattening phenomenon gives rise to the simultaneous appearance of elastic softening and local structural instability, and explains the enhanced piezoelectricity of the alloys. Furthermore, we present a volume matching condition for an efficient search of new piezoelectric materials. It states that alloys in which the parent components show close volume matching exhibit a flatter potential-energy landscape and higher increase of piezoelectric moduli. We suggest YInN, beyond ScAlN, as a promising material for piezoelectric energy harvesting with its enhanced ≈400% piezoelectric moduli.
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| 9. |
- Žukauskaitė, Agnė, et al.
(författare)
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Stabilization of Wurtzite Sc0.4Al0.6N in Pseudomorphic Epitaxial ScxAl1-xN/InyAl1-yN Superlattices
- 2015
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Ingår i: Acta Materialia. - : Elsevier. - 1359-6454 .- 1873-2453. ; 94, s. 101-110
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pseudomorphic stabilization in wurtzite ScxAl1-xN/AlN and ScxAl1-xN/InyAl1-yN superlattices (x=0.2, 0.3, and 0.4; y=0.2-0.72), grown by reactive magnetron sputter epitaxy was investigated. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show that in ScxAl1-xN/AlN superlattices the compressive biaxial stresses due to positive lattice mismatch in Sc0.3Al0.7N and Sc0.4Al0.6N lead to loss of epitaxy, although the structure remains layered. For the negative lattice mismatched In-rich ScxAl1-xN/InyAl1-yN superlattices a tensile biaxial stress promotes the stabilization of wurtzite ScxAl1-xN even for the highest investigated concentration x=0.4. Ab initio calculations with fixed in-plane lattice parameters show a reduction in mixing energy for wurtzite ScxAl1-xN under tensile stress when x≥0.375 and support the experimental results.
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| 10. |
- Žukauskaitė, Agnė, et al.
(författare)
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YxAl1-xN Thin Films
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics D. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0022-3727 .- 1361-6463. ; 45:42, s. 422001-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reactive magnetron sputtering was used to deposit YxAl1-xN thin films, 0≤x≤0.22, onto Al2O3(0001) and Si(100) substrates. X-ray diffraction and analytical electron microscopy show that the films are solid solutions. Lattice constants are increasing with Y concentration, in agreement with ab initio calculations. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements reveal a band gap decrease from 6.2 eV (x=0) down to 4.9 eV (x=0.22). Theoretical investigations within the special quasirandom structure approach show that the wurtzite structure has the lowest mixingenthalpy for 0≤x≤0.75.
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