Research Laboratory for Synthesis and Analysis of Thin-film Systems

The Research Laboratory for the Synthesis and Analysis of Thin-film Systems (NIL SATS) was established in 2013 at the Institute of Physics of Kazan Federal University (KFU) with the support of the program to increase the competitiveness of universities and the KFU development program. The laboratory is one of the laboratories belonging to the KFU Quantum Technology Center. Professor Lenar Rafgatovich Tagirov, who is also the initiator of its creation, directs the work of the laboratory.

The laboratory is based on a modern modular complex (SPECS and BESTEC, Germany), which consists of a molecular beam epitaxy chamber, a magnetron sputtering chamber and an analytical chamber including analysis methods such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. Each camera is a unique technological device, the configuration and components of which were selected for the research needs of the laboratory, taking into account the current state of science. In addition, the laboratory is equipped with additional equipment for preliminary preparation of samples for research (cutting, cleaning and storage in an inert atmosphere), WestBond ultrasonic micro-welding (USA) for welding technological contacts to the surface of solid-state materials, DekakXT stylus profilometer (Bruker, USA) for measuring the thicknesses of synthesized materials with an accuracy of at least 1 nm and insulating a box with an airlock for storing thin-film samples in an atmosphere of ultrapure argon.

The laboratory carries out work on the synthesis and analysis of thin-film heterostructures from “antagonistic” materials such as ferromagnetic and superconducting metals, metals and dielectrics, semiconductors. At the same time, the laboratory is working on the production of high-temperature magnetic semiconductors based on oxides, in particular zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with an admixture of 3d transition elements for applications in the field of magnetic optical and spin electronics (spintronics).

Work is underway on the synthesis of plasmonic metamaterials based on metal nitrides to control subwavelength optical fields. All the above-mentioned studies are carried out with the support of Russian scientific foundations and in cooperation with Russian and foreign colleagues and partners. In particular, the laboratory closely cooperates with the Institute of Semiconductor Physics (IFTT RAS, Chernogolovka), which is one of the leading scientific centers in Russia. The laboratory is a component of a distributed joint laboratory with the RIKEN Research Center (Japan). Jointly, KFU (NIL SATS) and IFTT RAS (Laboratory of Superconductivity, under the supervision of Prof. Ryazanov Valery Vladimirovich), pioneering work is underway to implement the logic of superconducting microelectronics based on palladium-iron alloys. Thus, the laboratory solves problems and conducts research directly related to technologies for the production and processing of functional nanomaterials ("critical technology").

The results of these works are promising thin films and heterostructures of various types, properties, and purposes, which can subsequently form the basis for the technological cycle of production of micro- or nanoelectronic devices and applications of a new generation: logic elements of magnetic memory (terahertz electronics, rewriting rate with a frequency of 1012 THz), highly sensitive sensors, functional coatings for photovoltaics (the science of obtaining electric current from sunlight). The scientific work on the above-mentioned problems is carried out by the staff of the NIL SATS KFU laboratory: Candidate of Technical Sciences Yanilkin Igor Vitalievich, n.s. Gumarov Amir Ildusovich, n.s. Vakhitov Iskander Rashidovich, under the guidance of Doctor of Ph.D., Professor Tagirov Lenar Rafgatovich and Ph.D., Associate Professor Yusupov Roman Valeryevich.