Recrystallization and formation of spheroidal gold particles in amorphous-like AlN–TiB2–TiSi2 coatings after annealing and subsequent implantation

Abstract

The recrystallization of the structure of an X-ray amorphous AlN–TiB₂–TiSi₂ coating containing short-range order regions with characteristic sizes of 0.8–1.0 nm has been performed using a negative gold ion (Au^–) beam and high-temperature annealing. Direct measurements using methods of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectral (EDXS) microanalysis have demonstrated that thermal annealing at a temperature of 1300°C in air results in the formation of nanoscale (10–15 nm) phases AlN, AlB₂, Al₃O₃, and TiO₂, whereas the ion implantation of negative ions Au^– leads to a fragmentation (decrease in the size) of nanograins to 2–5 nm with the formation of spheroidal gold nanocrystallites a few nanometers in size, as well as to the formation of an amorphous oxide film in the depth (near-surface layer) of the coating due to ballistic ion mixing and collision cascades.