Pulsed - Laser deposition of oxide thin films and laser - Induced breakdown spectroscopy of multi - Element materials

Abstract

New results of the Linz group on pulsed - laser deposition (PLD) of oxide thin films and on laser - induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) of multi-element materials are reported. High-Tc superconducting (HTS) films with enhanced critical current density Jc are produced by laser ablation of novel nano-composite ceramic targets. The targets contain insulating nano-particles that are embedded into the YBa2Cu3O 7 matrix. Epitaxial double-layers of lithium-doped and aluminum-doped ZnO are deposited on r-cut sapphire substrates. Acoustic over-modes in the GHz range are excited by piezoelectric actuation of layers. Smooth films of rare-earth doped glass are produced by F2 - laser ablation. The transport properties of HTS thin films are modified by light - ion irradiation. Thin film nano - patterning is achieved by masked ion beam irradiation. LIBS is employed to analyze trace elements in industrial iron oxide powder and reference polymer materials. Various trace elements of ppm concentration are measured in the UV/VIS and vacuum-UV spectral range. Quantitative LIBS analysis of major components in oxide materials is performed by calibration-free methods. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.