Preparation of lanthanide thin films for ion beam experiments and post irradiation characterization

Abstract

The heaviest elements in the periodic table have a low production yield. In order to increase the production yield of the superheavy elements, thicker targets are required than the present molecular plating technique can offer. Therefore, lanthanide thin films, as lighter homologues to the actinides, were prepared by a new electrodeposition method. The trifluoromethanesulfonates (triflates) of the lanthanide salts were dissolved in Dimethylformamide (DMF) and then electrochemically deposited onto substrates of different geometries. These thin films were irradiated with different swift heavy ion beams with energies of over 200 MeV. Thin films were analyzed spectroscopically by Raman and IR measurements before and after irradiation, to investigate chemical changes induced by irradiation.