Metallic clusters in the AlN ceramic

Characterization of the local environment of metallic ions (Cu, Fe, Ti, Ni and Er) implanted in the ceramic matrix AlN have led us to conclude that the heat of formation (\Delta H) of the implanted ion nitride (I-N) is the parameter which has to be considered in order to predict the final system. When ΔH_I-N is negative, bonds between the implanted ion and nitrogen atoms are formed, when ΔH_I-N is positive, clusters of the implanted ion are formed. Moreover, we give some physical characteristics of the Cu and Ni clusters in the AlN matrix and show the differences between imbedded and deposited clusters of the same size. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.