High temperature field evaporation of the Hf-Mo alloy

Atom probe study of the high temperature field evaporation of Hf(15 weight %)-Mo alloy has been carried out in the temperature range from 1300 to 1850 K. The microprotrusions, moving and fluctuating have been visualized by means of host field evaporated ions. In spite of the high amount of Mo in the alloy the atom probe mass-spectra revealed typically two main peaks: Hf⁺⁺⁺ and Hf₂⁺⁺⁺ . Depending on the temperature and electric field the monomer or dimer Hf-peaks were more or less pronounced. On the base of high temperature field evaporation of this alloy a point ion source of Hf, useful in nanotechnology, can be created