Abstract :
The structural properties of nanocrystalline
europium oxide (Eu2O3) thin films, produced via
electrophoretic deposition (EPD), were investigated.
We found that EPD from our Eu2O3 nanocrystal
solutions yielded both translucent films, with uniform
size and distribution of the microstructure, and opaque
films, with marked anisotropy to the size and distribution
of the constituents of the microstructure. The
disparity in the film morphology arose from the initial
temperature conditions of the nanocrystal solution.
The translucent films, produced from pre-chilled
(–25 C) EPD solutions, were bimodal films, comprised
of homogeneous, tightly packed, glassy nanocrystalline
films interspersed with micron-sized
nanocrystal aggregates. In contrast, the opaque films,
produced from room temperature solutions, consisted
of an irregularly distributed and shaped microstructure.
The evolution of the microstructure was monitored
for the chilled samples as a function of film
thickness (deposition time) and juxtaposed with the
resultant structure of the room temperature film.
Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy
were employed to characterize the films.
