SEDL / STP / STP596-EB / STP39062S

Determination of the Low Temperature Diffusion of Chromium Through Gold Films by Ion Scattering Spectroscopy and Auger Electron Spectroscopy

Nelson, GC
Members of the technical staff, Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, N. Mex.

Holloway, PH
Members of the technical staff, Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, N. Mex.

Pages: 11    Published: Jan 1976

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Abstract

The transport of chromium through thin gold films has been characterized by ion scattering spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. The dominant transport path was shown to be grain boundaries in the gold films. The driving forces for transport were shown to be the reduction in the systems free energy associated both with the free energy of mixing and the free energy of formation of chromium oxide (Cr²O³). The kinetics of grain boundary diffusion were determined as a function of time and temperature. The grain boundary diffusion coefficient preexponential was determined to be 3.8 × 10-³ cm²/s and the activation energy to be 26 kcal/mol.