In this study, high strength Au-based composited films was achieved through TiO_2 nanoparticles (NPs) reinforcement . The Au-TiO_2 composite film was electrodeposited onto a copper plate with a 1 cm~2 surface area using galvanostatic method. Different surface morphologies of composite films with different TiO_2 contents were observed through scanning electron microscope (SE4300, Hitachi) images (shown in Figure 1). The surfaces were found to be composed of particles, and a decrease in the particle size was observed with an increase in amounts of TiO_2 in the film from 0 to 2.72 wt%. Broadened XRD peaks of the Au-TiO_2 composite film containing 2.72 wt% TiO_2 shown in Figure 2 indicated grain refinement caused by co-deposition with the NPs. The primary characteristic peak of TiO_2 at 2θ = 25.1° also appeared in the XRD patterns of the Au-TiO_2 composite film containing 2.72 wt% TiO_2 NPs (inset of Figure 2). Figure 3 shows the scanning ion microscope (SIM, FB-2100, Hitachi) images and a stress-strain curve of a micro-pillar fabricated from the composite film containing 2.72 wt% TiO_2 NPs. Yield strength of the pillar was 0.84 GPa, which was much higher than that of pure gold electroplated through conventional method .
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