Kinetics of thermal transformations in nanosized chromium films

The transformations in nanosized chromium layers at different layer thicknesses (d = 14–154 nm) and thermal treatment temperatures (T = 673–873 K) were studied by optical spectroscopy, microscopy, and gravimetry. The kinetic curves of conversion at different chromium film thicknesses and treatment temperatures are well approximated by the linear, inverse logarithmic, cubic, and logarithmic functions. The contact potential difference for Cr and Cr₂O₃ films and photo-emf for Cr-Cr₂O₃ systems were measured. An energy band diagram of Cr-Cr₂O₃ systems was constructed. A model of thermal transformation was constructed for Cr films that included the stages of oxygen adsorption, charge carrier redistribution in the contact field of Cr-Cr₂O₃, and chromium(III) oxide formation.