Evidence of chromium-cobalt binary cluster formation by pulsed laser evaporation

• Observation of the formation of CrCo+ and related clusters by laser ablation.
• Measurement of relative abundance of these clusters.
• DFT calculations to demonstrate the stability of these cations.

We report on the use of time of flight mass spectrometry to investigate the cluster spectrum resulting from Nd-YAG ablation of a Co-Cr target. Cr+ clusters dominated the spectrum, with Co+ clusters as the second most intense peak, and we found a clearly resolved Cr-Co binary cluster that could be suitable for co-doping during the growth of laser crystals. Significant contributions from elemental dimers as well as some oxide clusters were also observed. Density functional calculations confirmed that formation of the observed intermetallic clusters was thermodynamically favorable.

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