Effects of A-elements (A = Si, Ge or Sn) on the structure and electrical contact properties of Ti-A-C-Ag nanocomposites

Ti-A-C-Ag (A is Si, Ge or Sn) nanocomposite coatings have been deposited by dc magnetron sputtering in an ultra high vacuum chamber. Electron microscopy, energydispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction show that all coatings contain nanocrystalline TiC and Ag grains in a matrix of mainly amorphous C. A C/Ti ratio above unity yields a homogenous distribution of Ag with a reduced grain size. From a chemical point of view, the addition of Ge and Sn to the Ti-C* Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (J. Lauridsen). Linköping University, IFM, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. Tel.: +46 13282976; Fax: +46 13137568.