title: Fractal features of carbon-nickel composite thin films.
abstract: This work analyses the three-dimensional (3-D) surface texture of carbon-nickel (C-Ni) films grown by radio frequency (RF) magnetron co-sputtering on glass substrates. The C-Ni thin films were deposited under different deposition times, from 50 to 600 s, at room temperature. Atomic force microscopy was employed to characterize the 3-D surface texture data in connection with the statistical, and fractal analyses. It has been found that up to 180 s the sputtering occurs in more metal content mode and in greater than 180 s it occurs in more non-metal content mode. This behavior demonstrated a strong link between the structural and morphological properties of C-Ni composite films and facilitates a deeper understanding of structure/property relationships and surface defects in prepared samples. Furthermore, these findings can be applied to research on the mechanisms to prepare and control high-quality C-Ni films.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of AET, Discipline of Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 103-105 B-dul Muncii St, Cluj-Napoca, 400641, Cluj, Romania.
authors.forename: Ştefan
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Ţălu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 11, 10-719, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Miroslaw
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bramowicz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 54, Olsztyn, 10-710, Poland.
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulesza
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran.
authors.forename: Vali
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dalouji
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elite Club, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solaymani
authors.affiliation: Plasma Physics Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 14665-678, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valedbagi
keywords: RF magnetron co-sputtering; carbon-nickel composite thin films; fractal analysis; three-dimensional surface micromorphology