LABORATORY OF SURFACE PHYSICS

 

Head of Laboratory Dr.hab.phys. J.Maniks

Scientific staff

1.      Dr.hab.J.Maniks

2.      Dr.I.Manika

3.      Dr.F.Muktepavela

Students

4.      A.Garbuzovs

5.      L.Gailīte

 

 

 

The research interests of the laboratory cover materials for application in optics, tribology and micro/nano-technologies.

Research area:

·        Micromechanical properties of surfaces, interfaces and thin films;

·        Adhesion and related processes on phase boundaries and interfaces in heterogeneous and nanostructured materials;

·        Photo-, ion irradiation- and environment-induced effects in advanced optical materials and materials for micro/nanotechnologies.

 
 
 


Janis Maniks, leading researcher, head of laboratory, Dr.habil.phys.

Graduated from the University of Latvia, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics in 1960. Published over 150 papers/communications.

Field of interests: adhesion of metals with metals and non-metallic materials, surface effects in advanced optical and tribological materials.

           

 
 
                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 


Faina Muktepavela, leading researcher, Dr.phys.
Graduated from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, Faculty of Metallophysics in 1967.  Published over 140 papers/communications.

Field of interests: adhesion, phase boundaries, interfaces, superplasticity, nanostructured materials, mechanical properties of coatings.

           

 
                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Ilze Manika, leading researcher, Dr.phys.

Graduated from the University of Latvia, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics in 1965. Published over 150 papers/communications.

 Field of interests: physical and micromechanical properties of surfaces, thin films, optical and tribological coatings, effects of light- and ion-irradiations on the dislocation structure and mechanical properties of advanced optical materials. 

 
 
 


                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At present the research is focused on following problems:

(1) photo-induced effects in fullerite C60 crystals and thin films considering application of fullerite as a high-resolution photoresist  for holographic recording,

(2) formation of nanoscale defects and modification of mechanical and optical properties of crystalline solids (LiF) under irradiation with energetic (MeV-GeV) ions;

(3) adhesion at the atomically clean contacts of metals and metal/non-metal; interfacial effects; surface and phase boundary diffusion, mechanoactivation of interfaces; environmental effects.

(4) structure, microhardness and adhesion of wear-resistant  nanostructured multilayer (TiN/CN, TiN/AlN, etc.) and multicomponent Ni-Cr-Si-B-C-Cu-Al-Fe based coatings;

 

Equipment:

  • Optical and scanning electron microscopy.
  • High resolution microhardness testing technique.
  • High and ultrahigh vacuum equipment for deposition of thin films.

Main results:

 

§         Modification of LiF crystals under irradiation  with Au, Pb, Bi, and S ions in the energy range 400-2300 MeV was investigated. It was found that the formation of nanoscale defects (ion tracks, lithium and fluorine aggregates and clusters) leads to a remarkable hardening, which depends on the applied fluence and ion species, and correlates with the ion energy loss along the ion path (Fig.1). Structural investigations reveal irradiation-induced stress extending deep into the adjacent non-irradiated crystal and leading to the formation of dislocations. The results show possibility of application of ion irradiation for modification of micromechanical and optical properties in comparatively deep (about 100 μm) near-surface layers.

 

 

      

Fig.1. Change of microhardness and energy loss along ion path for LiF crystals irradiated with S ions of 410 MeV

Fig.2. Pattern of light irradiation-induced  defects on the (111) face of fullerite C60 crystals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig.3. Obtaining of atomically clean surfaces by rupture of a sample in the mantle of plastic metal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

§         During the recent years, the research activities are concerned with photo-induced modifications of structure, mechanical and physical properties of fullerite C60. The kinetics and wavelength dependence of the photo-induced polymerization of fullerite C60 crystals has been investigated, and formation of two phototransformed phases, which differ in the hardness and thermal stability, was found to appear. It was shown that processes of photopolymerization are accompanied by generation of stresses (Fig.2). The results are of importance for possible photolithographic applications of fullerite.

 

§         Original methods of controllable internal rupture in solids and liquids for obtaining atomically clean surfaces and for investigation of their adhesion were continuously developed during the last three decades. Rupture of a sample coated with a vacuum-tight mantle of plastic metal (Fig.3) is the elementary version of internal rupture. Investigations of the adhesion at the atomically clean contacts between similar or dissimilar metals as well as metals with non-metallic materials were performed. The effects of applied pressure, loading time, contact duration, surface and phase-boundary diffusion, etc. were studied. The results are of importance for understanding of the mechanisms of adhesion, superplasticity and grain boundary brittleness, for development of technologies of solid phase joining of materials as well as for prediction of the interface properties in nanostructured materials under different treatments.

 

The strategy developed includes extensive studies in the area of advanced optical and tribological materials and materials for micro/nanotechnologies.

 

Cooperation:

 

Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforshung (GSI), Darmstadt, Germany (Prof.K.Schwartz) and Laboratory CIRIL, Caen, France (Prof.M.Toulemonde).

Institute of Metal Physics,Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kiev, Ukraina (Prof. M.Vasylyev).

Latvian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physical Energetics, Riga, Latvia

Riga Technical University, Riga,  Latvia.

 

The laboratory participates in the Network of Centres of Excellence “Interfacial effects,  novel properties and technologies of nanostructured materials”; subgroup “Nanostructured metals obtained by severe plastic deformation” (co-ordinator Prof.W.Lojkowski, Poland).

 

 

Education activities:

 

§         Courses of lectures “Physics of Metals” (Dr.phys.F.Muktepavela) and “Surface Physics” (Dr.habil.phys. J.Maniks) for students of the University of Latvia;

§         Course of lectures “Physics of Metals” (Dr.phys.F.Muktepavela) for students of Riga Technical University;

§          PhD studies (R.Pokulis from Daugavpils University, Latvia).

 

Selected publications

 

  1. I.Manika, J.Maniks, R.Pokulis, and J.Kalnacs. Wavelength dependence and kinetics of photopolymerization of C60 single crystals studied by microhardness and dislocation mobility methods. Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures, Vol.10, pp.69-80, 2002.
  2. F.Muktepavela and J.Maniks. Structure Evolution and Diffusion During Interphase Boundary Sliding in Sn-Based Binary Eutectic. Interface Science, 10, pp.21-26, 2002.
  3. L. Shebanovs, J. Maniks, and J. Kalnacs. X-ray diffraction stdy of crystallographic parameters and Debye temperature of C60 single crystals. Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol.234, pp.202-206, 2002.
  4. I.Manika, J.Maniks, K.Schwartz, and C.Trautmann. Hardening and formation of dislocation structures in LiF crystals irradiated with MeV-GeV ions. Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 196, pp. 299-307, 2002.
  5. I.Manika, J.Maniks, R.Pokulis, and J.Kalnacs. Illumination time-evolution and wavelength dependence of the photoinduced hardening of C60 crystals. Phys.Sol.Stat., 44, pp.417-418, 2002.
  6. I.Manika, J.Maniks, R.Pokulis, J.Kalnacs, and D.Erts. Polymerization and Damage of C60 Single Crystals under Low Fluency Laser Irradiation. Phys.Stat.Solidi (a),188, pp.989-998, 2001.
  7. J.Maniks and A.Simanovskis. The joining of LiNbO3, quartz, TlBr-TlI and other optical materials by the use of thin metal films as bonding agents. In:” Defects and Surface-Induced Effects in Advanced Perovskites (G.Borstel, A.Krumins, D.Millers, eds.)”, NATO Science Series 3.High Technology, Kluver Academic Publishers, Vol.3, pp.267-272, 2000.
  8. M.A.Vasyliyev, V.E.Panarin, A.A.Deina, B.B.Straumal, and F.O.Muktepavela. Increase of the corrosion-resistance after low energy ion treatment. Czechoslovak Journal of Physics, 50, Suppl. 53, pp.1-4, 2000.
  9. I.Manika, J.Maniks, and J.Kalnacs. Photo-, thermo-   and stress-promoted transformations in fullerite C60. Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences, 4, pp. 48-59, 2000.
  10. H.Jensen, G.Sorensen, I.Manika, F.Muktepavela, and J.Sobota. Reactive sputtering of nanostructured multilayer coatings and their tribological properties. Surface and Coatings Technology, 119, pp.1016-1021, 1999.
  11. J.Maniks and F.Muktepavela. Effect of surface diffusion on the contact formation and adhesion of atomically clean surfaces of lead, tin and Pb-Sn eutectic alloy. Materials Science Forum, 294-296, pp.537-540, 1999.
  12. I.Manika, J.Maniks, and J.Kalnacs. Temperature dependence of the microhardness and dislocation mobility in the near-surface layer of C60 crystals. Fullerene Science and Technology, 7, pp. 825-839,1999.
  13. I.Manika, J.Maniks, and J.Kalnacs. Studies of the microhardness and dislocation mobility in C60 crystals under oxidizing conditions. Philosophical Magazine Letters, 77, pp.321-326, 1998.
  14. I.Manika, J.Maniks, A.Simanovskis, and J.Kalnacs. Adhesion and strength properties of C60 films on silicon substrates. Fullerene Science and Technology, 6, pp. 981-989,1998.
  15. I.Manika, J.Maniks, and J.Kalnacs. Atmosphere-induced change of microhardness and plasticity of C60 single crystals and polycrystalline films. Carbon, 36, pp.641-644, 1998.
  16. F.Muktepavela and J.Maniks. Mechanical properties and accommodation processes on metallic interfaces.  NanoStructured Materials, 10, pp.479-484, 1998.
  17. F.Muktepavela, I.Manika, and V.Mironovs. Structure and mechanical properties of Al-B composite powder.  Materials & Design, 18, pp.257-259, 1998.
  18. I.Manika, F.Muktepavela, H.Jensen, G.Sorensen, and J.Sobota. Microhardness and adhesion measurements of reactively sputtered TiAlN multilayer coatings deposited as function of nitrogen mass-flow. Surface&Coatings Technology, 100/101, pp. 328-332, 1998.
  19. I.Bucenieks, J.Maniks, F.Muktepavela, and A.Simanovskis. Wetting of stainless steel by mercury. Transactions of Amer. Nuclear Society, 77, pp. 462-466, 1997.
  20. J.Maniks. Methods of controllable internal rupture in solids and liquids for obtaining atomically- clean surfaces and investigating their adhesion. Vacuum, 46, pp. 1439-1444, 1995.
  21. I. Manika and J. Maniks, Characteristics of deformation localization and limits to the microhardness testing of amorphous and polycrystalline coatings. Thin Solid Films, 208, pp. 223-227, 1992.
  22. I.Manika and J.Teteris.  Photo-induced changes of mechanical properties in amorphous arsenic chalcogenide films. J. Non-Cryst.Solids, 90, pp.162-168, 1988.
  23. F.O.Muktepavela and G.P.Upit. The embrittlement of Sn-Al eutectic alloy in water vapour, J.Mater.Sci., 19, 594-606, 1984.