The annealing of Bi, Cr, and Mn, implanted in ZnO, has been studied by Rutherford backscattering, ion channeling, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Implantation of ∼1016 ions/cm2 of any of these elements produces large concentrations of Zn interstitials, but no completely amorphous region. The temperature at which these interstitials anneal is a function of the implant species. Other defects produced by the implantation, which give rise to dechanneling and a consequent increased scattering probability in the tails of backscattering spectra, anneal at significantly higher temperature. This annealing is also a function of the implant species. Motion of the implant ions themselves does not occur when the interstitials anneal; it takes place above 700 °C for Bi and Mn, and above 1000 °C for Cr.
Ion implantation was used to form compound semiconductor nanocrystal precipitates of ZnS, CdS, and PbS in both glass and crystalline matrices. The precipitate microstructures and size distributions were investigated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy techniques. Several unusual features were observed, including strongly depth-dependent size variations of the ZnS precipitates and central void features in the CdS nanocrystals. The morphology and crystal structure of the nanocrystal precipitates could be controlled by selection of the host material. The size distribution and microstructural complexity were significantly reduced by implanting a low concentration of ions into a noncrystalline host, and by using multi-energy implants to give a flat concentration profile of the implanted elements.
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