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3D ToF-SIMS Imaging of Polymer Multilayer Films Using Argon Cluster Sputter Depth Profiling

Bailey, James; Havelund, Rasmus; Shard, Alexander G.; Gilmore, Ian S.; Alexander, Morgan R.; Sharp, James S.; Scurr, David J.

3D ToF-SIMS Imaging of Polymer Multilayer Films Using Argon Cluster Sputter Depth Profiling Thumbnail


Authors

James Bailey

Rasmus Havelund

Alexander G. Shard

Ian S. Gilmore

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MORGAN ALEXANDER MORGAN.ALEXANDER@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Biomedical Surfaces

JAMES SHARP james.sharp@nottingham.ac.uk
Associate Professor

DAVID SCURR DAVID.SCURR@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Principal Research Fellow



Abstract

ToF-SIMS imaging with argon cluster sputter depth profiling has provided detailed insight into the three-dimensional (3D) chemical composition of a series of polymer multilayer structures. Depths of more than 15 μm were profiled in these samples while maintaining uniform sputter rates. The 3D chemical images provide information regarding the structure of the multilayer systems that could be used to inform future systems manufacturing and development. This also includes measuring the layer homogeneity, thickness, and interface widths. The systems analyzed were spin-cast multilayers comprising alternating polystyrene (PS) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) layers. These included samples where the PVP and PS layer thickness values were kept constant throughout and samples where the layer thickness was varied as a function of depth in the multilayer. The depth profile data obtained was observed to be superior to that obtained for the same materials using alternative ion sources such as C60 n+. The data closely reflected the “as manufactured” sample specification, exhibiting good agreement with ellipsometry measurements of layer thickness, while also maintaining secondary ion intensities throughout the profiling regime. The unprecedented quality of the data allowed a detailed analysis of the chemical structure of these systems, revealing some minor imperfections within the polymer layers and demonstrating the enhanced capabilities of the argon cluster depth profiling technique.

Citation

Bailey, J., Havelund, R., Shard, A. G., Gilmore, I. S., Alexander, M. R., Sharp, J. S., & Scurr, D. J. (2015). 3D ToF-SIMS Imaging of Polymer Multilayer Films Using Argon Cluster Sputter Depth Profiling. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 7(4), 2654-2659. https://doi.org/10.1021/am507663v

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 6, 2015
Online Publication Date Jan 20, 2015
Publication Date Feb 4, 2015
Deposit Date Feb 15, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Electronic ISSN 1944-8252
Publisher American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 7
Issue 4
Pages 2654-2659
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/am507663v
Keywords ToF-SIMS; Argon; Depth; Profiling; Polymer; Multilayers
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/743604
Publisher URL http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/am507663v

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