An infrared imaging method for high-throughput combinatorial investigation of hydrogenation-dehydrogenation and new phase formation of thin films

Abstract

Positron depth profiling of the structural and electronic structure transformations of hydrogenated Mg-based thin films J. Appl. Phys. 105, 043514 (2009) We have developed an infrared imaging setup enabling in situ infrared images to be acquired, and expanded on capabilities of an infrared imaging as a high-throughput screening technique, determination of a critical thickness of a Pd capping layer which significantly blocks infrared emission from below, enhancement of sensitivity to hydrogenation and dehydrogenation by normalizing raw infrared intensity of a Mg thin film to an inert reference, rapid and systematic screening of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation properties of a Mg-Ni composition spread covered by a thickness gradient Pd capping layer, and detection of formation of a Mg 2 Si phase in a Mg thin film on a thermally oxidized Si substrate during annealing.

Applications of high throughput (combinatorial) methodologies to electronic, magnetic, optical, and energy-related materials

“…It was further demonstrated that this technique could be used to monitor metal to semiconductor, as well as metal to metal transformations; this finding is important since many hydrogen storage materials can exhibit multiple decomposition steps, and not all of the products are insulating. 313,320 CCS libraries of hydrogen storage materials enable measurement of the thermodynamic properties, but to determine reaction kinetics, it is useful to employ thickness wedge libraries, where the importance of grain size on the reaction rates can be studied. Materials such as MgH 2 strongly inhibit the diffusion of hydrogen, and thus present a substantial barrier to efficient hydrogenation.…”

Observation of phase transitions in hydrogenated Yttrium films via normalized infrared emissivity

“…In recent years normalized infrared (IR) emissivity imaging has been revealed to be a potent characterization tool for studying hydrogen storage in thin films [1,2]. In this measurement technique IR images of a thin film and of a hydrogen-inert reference material are recorded with an IR camera simultaneously during hydrogenation experiments.…”

A combinatorial characterization scheme for high-throughput investigations of hydrogen storage materials

“…The NIRE system used here has been described in detail in a previous publication [12]. Briefly, the films were measured in a specially designed hydrogenation chamber fitted with a sapphire window.…”