This research produced high-quality, single-phase nickel titanate (NiTiO 3 ) thin films, a high-k material for gate dielectrics, by a modified sol-gel method. The precursor was prepared by reactions of nickel acetate tetrahydrate and titanium isopropoxide in 2-methoxyethanol with a 1:1 ratio of Ni/Ti in the solution. After coating, the films were post-heat treated between 5001 and 9001C. X-ray diffraction indicated that the films deposited at and above 6001C were single-phase nickel titanate. X-ray photoelectron spectra of a typical thin film revealed that the binding energies of Ni 2p 3/2 and Ti 2p 3/2 electrons were 855.2 and 457.7 eV, respectively. Raman spectra showed eight absorptions between 200 and 800 cm À1 . Scanning electron microscope images showed smooth surfaces. Findings showed the dielectric constant of the NiTiO 3 film to be 41.36 by capacitance-voltage analysis. The results show that single-phase NiTiO 3 film can be prepared by the sol-gel spin coating method and then heat-treated at 6001C.
The microstructures and magnetic properties of nickel nanorods fabricated using an anodic alumina oxide template and electroless deposition were investigated. The as-deposited nanorods were found to contain nanocrystalline grains with an average size of approximately 2-3 nm. The temperature-dependent magnetic hysteresis curves indicated superparamagnetic behavior of the as-deposited rods as a result of the reduction of ferromagnetic crystallites. The superparamagnetic (SM) Ni nanorods transformed into ferromagnetic (FM) ones when annealed at 400 degrees C. Results from dark-field transmission electron microscopy reveal that the microstructure of the rods tends to form a laminar structure with grain growth parallel to the long axis of the rods, together with the enhancement of ferromagnetic ordering along the same direction. The results suggest that the SM-FM phase transition obtained is microstructure driven. The Ni nanorods manufactured by the electroless deposition also have the potential to serve as magnetic building blocks in nanoscale devices, such as high-frequency inductors. On-chip magnetic spiral inductors were fabricated using these nanorods, and it was demonstrated that the nanorods can enhance inductance up to 6 GHz.
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