Ion beam materials modification research

Professor Karur Padmanabhan

The modification in surface properties of solids due to the interaction of energetic ions (charged particles) is investigated using sputtering (r.f. and d.c.) and ion implantation (100 kV Varian Extrion) facilities.

Ion backscattering and channeling analysis are carried out using the department's 4.75 MV Van de Graaff accelerator. An ultra-high vacuum facility for low energy ion beam analysis coupled with the existing ion channeling analysis facility is under development.

Current experiments involve ion beam induced dynamic mixing and ion channeling studies of an electrode-electrolyte interface. Some of the experiments are carried out in collaboration with General Motors Research Laboratory and other local industries.