Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
Cross section transmission electron microscopy was used to study the microstructure and interface structure of Cr films deposited by ion-assisted deposition as a function of the incident ion energy. High-energy ion bombardment (1 keV) was found to enhance the adhesion of the deposited film owing to the formation of an intermixed layer, whereas deposition with lowenergy ions (100 eV) was found to reduce or eliminate grain boundary porosity. A tailored Cr film with excellent adhesion and no grain boundary porosity was deposited by combining highand low-energy ion bombardment.