1. Electronic excitation induced structural modification of FeCo nanoparticles embedded in silica matrix
- Author
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D. K. Avasthi, Sarathlal Koyiloth Vayalil, Antonella Iadecola, Debalaya Sarker, P. C. Srivastava, S. Ghosh, and D. Kabiraj
- Subjects
Materials science ,Polymers and Plastics ,Extended X-ray absorption fine structure ,Scattering ,Metals and Alloys ,Analytical chemistry ,Nanoparticle ,Fluence ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Biomaterials ,Condensed Matter::Materials Science ,Crystallinity ,Crystallography ,Grazing-incidence small-angle scattering ,Particle size ,Spectroscopy - Abstract
Electronic excitation mediated energy loss by 120 MeV Au9+ swift heavy ions (SHIs) results in significant structural modifications of FeCo nanoparticles embedded in thin SiO2 matrix. The variations in local atomic structure and particle size/shape at different irradiation fluences are probed by extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) and grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS). The crystallinity and ordering of the films are found to first decrease and then increase with fluence. The observed alterations in co-ordination number of Fe/Co from EXAFS are correlated primarily with particle size modifications due to a transient thermal spike generated in the embedded nanoparticles by SHIs. The role of hydrogen desorption from nanoparticles is also highlighted.
- Published
- 2014
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