SKM 2023 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 29: Interfaces and Thin Films

CPP 29.9: Talk

Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 12:00–12:15, MER 02

Analysis of non-equilibrium thin film growth using X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy — •Ingrid Dax¹, Ivan Zaluzhnyy¹, Michael Sprung², and Frank Schreiber¹ — ¹Universität Tübingen, Germany — ²Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany

Thin film growth is a classic example of a non-equilibrium process in which a wide variety of functional properties can be obtained depending on the growth kinetics. Understanding the microscopic dynamics underlying the growth of molecular materials is an essential prerequisite for the rational design of complex structures and morphologies with controlled properties.

We perform in-situ X-ray experiments in grazing incidence geometry to follow the formation of thin film growth in real time, which reveals details of the dynamics during this process. This includes the adsorption of molecules on the substrate and the subsequent formation, realignment and diffusion of resulting molecular islands.

Specifically, we use modern coherent techniques based on X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS). This resolves dynamics on the scale of 50-1000 nm, providing an unprecedented level of detail into the growth and diffusion of molecular islands during the growth process. We decompose our measurements into dynamic and kinetic time scales by comparing them to simulations, and interpret the results using established XPCS tools. This allows us to show that the time scales of a few 100 seconds are mainly due to kinetics, i.e., the growth of the islands.