Thermally induced absorption bands with vibronic structure in LiF crystals

Lithium fluoride single crystals obtained from different sources show a series of narrow absorption bands in the ultraviolet when annealed above 250°C in certain vacuum conditions. The ambient pressure and temperature at which annealing rwes place affects the defect production rate, increasing temperature and decreasing total pressure giving larger absorption strengths.

The structure of the absorption was similar for all the LiF crystals studied and consists of narrow bands some of which have half widths of less than 0.05 eV at 77°K. All but one of the bands observed, fit into a periodic structure that falls into two groups, suggesting an interpretation based on the interaction between electronic transitions within a defect centre, lattice vibrations and local mode vibrations of the centre.

It is thought that an impurity ion is responsible for this optical absorption.     

Fe掺杂氢化非晶碳薄膜制备及其热稳定性能

 以H₂、反式-2-丁烯（T₂B）和二茂铁混合气体为工作气体,用金属有机等离子体增强化学气相沉积法（PECVD）制备了Fe掺杂氢化非晶碳（a-C:H:Fe）薄膜。使用X射线光电子能谱（XPS）对a-C:H:Fe薄膜成分进行了分析。使用台阶仪、场发射扫描电镜（FESEM）、热重分析和紫外可见分光光度计（UV-VIS）,对比分析了a-C:H薄膜和a-C:H:Fe薄膜的沉积速率、表面形貌、热稳定性和光学带隙变化。研究表明：相同制备条件下,相比a-C:H薄膜,a-C:H:Fe薄膜的沉积速率高,表面颗粒小,容易碳化,光学带隙变窄。     

Fe掺杂氢化非晶碳薄膜制备及其热稳定性能

以H2、反式-2-丁烯（T2B）和二茂铁混合气体为工作气体,用金属有机等离子体增强化学气相沉积法（PECVD）制备了Fe掺杂氢化非晶碳（a-C:H:Fe）薄膜。使用X射线光电子能谱（XPS）对a-C:H:Fe薄膜成分进行了分析。使用台阶仪、场发射扫描电镜（FESEM）、热重分析和紫外可见分光光度计（UV-VIS）,对比分析了a-C:H薄膜和a-C:H:Fe薄膜的沉积速率、表面形貌、热稳定性和光学带隙变化。研究表明：相同制备条件下,相比a-C:H薄膜,a-C:H:Fe薄膜的沉积速率高,表面颗粒小,容易碳化,光学带隙变窄。     

Synthesis and thermoelectric properties of Bi-doped SnSe thin films

Bi doped n-type SnSe thin films were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and their structure and thermoelectric properties were studied. The x-ray diffraction patterns, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and microscopic images show that the prepared SnSe thin films were composed of pure SnSe crystals. The Seebeck coefficients of the Bi-doped SnSe were greatly improved compared to that of undoped SnSe thin films. Specifically, Sn_0.99Bi_0.01Se thin film exhibited a Seebeck coefficient of -905.8μV·K^-1 at 600 K, much higher than 285.5 μV·K^-1 of undoped SnSe thin film. Further first-principles calculations reveal that the enhancement of the thermoelectric properties can be explained mainly by the Fermi level lifting and the carrier pockets increasing near the Fermi level due to Bi doping in the SnSe samples. Our results suggest the potentials of the Bi-doped SnSe thin films in thermoelectric applications.     

Structural characterization and magnetoresistance of manganates thin films and Fe-doped manganates thin films

Perovskites thin films with the composition La_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃ doped with 20% Fe, were prepared by pulsed reactive crossed beam laser ablation, where a synchronized reaction gas pulse interacts with the ablation plume. The films were grown on various substrates and the highest colossal magnetoresistance ratio (CMR) was detected by Hall measurements for films grown on LaAlO₃ (1 0 0), which was selected as substrate for further investigations.Several growth parameters, such as substrate temperature and target to substrate distance were varied to analyze their influence on the film properties.The structure of the deposited thin films was characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscope, while Rutherford backscattering (RBS) was used to determine the film stoichiometry. The electrical properties were determined by Hall effect measurements in a magnetic field of 0.51 T.These measurements reveal that the amplitude of the CMR ratio depends strongly on the substrate and that the oxygen content influences the temperature where the transition from semiconductor to metal is observed.     

Structural,morphological and mechanical properties of niobium nitride thin films grown by ion and electron beams emanated from plasma

The influence of variation in plasma deposition parameters on the structural, morphological and mechanical characteristics of the niobium nitride films grown by plasma-emanated ion and electron beams are investigated. Crystallographic investigation made by X-ray diffractometer shows that the film synthesized at 10?cm axial distance with 15 plasma focus shots (PFS) exhibits better crystallinity when compared to the other deposition conditions. Morphological analysis made by scanning electron microscope reveals a definite granular pattern composed of homogeneously distributed nano-spheroids grown as clustered particles for the film synthesized at 10?cm axial distance for 15 PFS. Roughness analysis demonstrates higher rms roughness for the films synthesized at shorter axial distance and by greater number of PFS. Maximum niobium atomic percentage (35.8) and maximum average hardness (19.4?±?0.4?GPa) characterized by energy-dispersive spectroscopy and nano-hardness analyzer respectively are observed for film synthesized at 10?cm axial distance with 15 PFS.     

Excimer laser deposition of thin amorphous carbon films

A new carbon film deposition technique, based upon excimer laser vaporization of graphite in a flowing gas system has been developed. The low temperature vapor (LTV) technique alleviates high temperatures occurring in most other deposition methods. In this technique the UV laser ablation occurs in an inert flowing gas atmosphere. Atoms and molecules evaporated from graphite are cooled by gas entrainment before condensing on a substrate. The resulting films of amorphous carbon or hydrogenated amorphous carbon are free from strain. Measurement of the optical band gap of these films shows that E_g can be controlled by the hydrogen content of the carrier gas.     

Structural and PL properties of Cu-doped ZnO films

Cu-doped ZnO films with hexagonal wurtzite structure were deposited on silicon (1 1 1) substrates by radio frequency (RF) sputtering technique. An ultraviolet (UV) peak at ∼380 nm and a blue band centered at ∼430 nm were observed in the room temperature photoluminescent (PL) spectra. The UV emission peak was from the exciton transition. The blue emission band was assigned to the Zn interstitial (Zn_i) and Zn vacancy (V_Zn) level transition. A strong blue peak (∼435 nm) was observed in the PL spectra when the α_Cu (the area ratio of Cu-chips to the Zn target) was 1.5% at 100 W, and ZnO films had c-axis preferred orientation and smaller lattice mismatch. The influence of α_Cu and the sputtering power on the blue band was investigated.     

Enhancement of ferromagnetism in polycrystalline Si0.965Mn0.035:B films by boron plasma treatment

This paper reports that the polycrystalline Si0.965Mn0.035:B films have been prepared by cosputtering deposition followed by rapid thermal annealing for crystallization. The polycrystalline thin films consist of two ferromagnetic phases. The low temperature ferromagnetic phase with Curie temperature (Tc) of about 50 K is due to the Mn4Si7 phase in the films, while the high temperature one (Tc～250 K) is resulted from the incorporation of Mn into silicon. The films are treated by boron plasma excited with the approach of microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition for 40 minutes. After plasma treatment, it is observed that no extra magnetic phases or magnetic complexes exist in the films, while both the high temperature saturation magnetization and the hole concentration in the films increase. The obvious correlation between the magnetic properties and the electrical properties of the polycrystalline Si0.965Mn0.035:B films suggests that the hole carriers play an important role in Si:Mn diluted magnetic semiconductors.     

Effect of annealing on thermal stability and morphology of pulsed laser deposited Ir thin films

Iridium (Ir) thin films, deposited on Si (1 0 0) substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique using Ir target in a vacuum atmosphere, were annealed in air ambient and the thermal stability was investigated. The crystal structure and surface morphology of Ir thin films before and after being annealed were studied by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, scanning electron microscope, and atomic force microscopy. The results showed that single-phase Ir thin films with (1 1 1) preferred orientation could be deposited on Si (1 0 0) substrate at 300 °C and it remained stable below 600 °C, which showed a promising bottom electrode of integrated ferroelectric capacitors. Ir thin films got oxidized to IrO₂ at temperatures from 650 to 800 °C.     

Synthesis of ZrSiN composite films using a plasma focus device

ZrSiN thin films are synthesized by using plasma focus through various numbers of focus shots （10, 20, and 30）, with samples placed at 9 cm away from the tip of the anode. Crystal structures, surface morphologies, and elemental compositions of ZrSiN films are characterized by an X-ray diffractometer （XRD） and scanning electron microscope （SEM） attached with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDS）. XRD patterns confirm the formations of polycrystalline ZrSiN films. Crystallinity of nitride increases with the increase of focus shot number. The average crystallite size of zirconium nitride increases from 27 ± 3 nm to 73±8 nm and microstrain decreases from 2.28 to 1.0 with the increase of the focus shot number. SEM results exhibit the formations of granular and oval-shaped microstructures, depending on the number of focus shots. EDS results confirm the presences of silicon, zirconium, nitrogen, and oxygen in the composite films. The content values of Zr and N in the composite films increase with the increase of the focus shot number.     

Electrodeposition and growth mechanism of SnSe thin films

Tin selenide (SnSe) thin films were electrochemically deposited onto Au(1 1 1) substrates from an aqueous solution containing SnCl₂, Na₂SeO₃, and EDTA at room temperature (25 °C). The electrochemical behaviors and the codeposition potentials of Sn and Se were explored by cyclic voltammetry. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy were employed to characterize the thin films. When the electrodeposition potential increased, the Se content in the films decreased. It was found that the stoichiometric SnSe thin films could be obtained at −0.50 V. The as-deposited films were crystallized in the preferential orientation along the (1 1 1) plane. The morphologies of SnSe films could be changed from spherical grains to platelet-like particles as the deposition potential increases. The SEM investigations show that the film growth proceeds via nucleation, growth of film layer and formation of needle-like particles on the overlayer of the film. The optical absorption study showed the film has direct transition with band gap energy of 1.3 eV.     

Pulsed laser deposition of doped skutterudite thin films

Ca_xCo₄Sb₁₂ skutterudite thin films have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition using a Nd:YAG laser working at 532 or 266 nm of wavelength. Characterization has been carried out by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Emphasis has been put on the difficulty to obtain the skutterudite phase. Influence of the deposition temperature, the way of sticking the substrate, the laser fluence, the base pressure prior to deposition and the laser wavelength has been studied. All parameters revealed to have a drastic effect, and the skutterudite could only be achieved in a very narrow range of temperature and laser fluence, for a given wavelength, showing the importance on how these parameters are measured to ensure reproducible results.     

Structural, optical and electrochromic properties of nickel oxide thin films grown from electrodeposited nickel sulphide

Nickel oxide thin films were grown onto FTO-coated glass substrates by a two-step process: electrodeposition of nickel sulphide and their thermal oxidation at 425, 475 and 525 °C. The influence of thermal oxidation temperature on structural, optical, morphological and electrochromic properties was studied. The structural properties undoubtedly revealed NiO formation. The electrochromic properties were studied by means of cyclic voltammetry. The films exhibited anodic electrochromism, changing from a transparent state to a coloured state at +0.75 V versus SCE, i.e. by simultaneous ion and electron ejection. The transmittance in the coloured and bleached states was recorded to access electrochromic quality of the films. Colouration efficiency and electrochromic reversibility were found to be maximum (21 mC/cm² and 89%, respectively) for the films oxidized at 425 °C. The optical band gap energy of nickel oxide slightly varies with increase in annealing temperature.     

Synthesis, characterization and photoelectrochemical properties of n-CdS thin films

Cadmium sulfide thin films have been deposited on glass substrates by simple and cost effective chemical bath deposition technique. Triethanolamine was used as a complexing agent. The preparative parameters like ion concentration, temperature, pH, speed of substrate rotation and deposition time have been optimized for good quality thin films. The ‘as-grown’ films are characterized for structural, electrical, optical and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies reveal that the films are polycrystalline in nature. Energy-dispersive analysis by X-ray (EDAX) shows that films are cadmium rich. Uniform deposition of CdS thin films on glass substrate is observed from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) micrographs. Optical studies reveal a high absorption coefficient (10⁴ cm⁻¹) with a direct type of transition. The band gap is estimated to be 2.47 eV. The film shows n-type conduction mechanism. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell with CdS thin film as a photoanode and sulfide/polysulfide (1 M) solution as an electrolyte have been constructed and investigated for various cell parameters. The solar to electrical conversion efficiency (η) and fill factor (ff) are found to be 0.049% and 0.36, respectively.     

Structural and electrical characterization of strontium bismuth tantalate (SBT) thin films

Ferroelectric strontium bismuth tantalate (SBT) thin films were deposited by thermal metalorganic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) onto a complex layered Pt/IrO₂/Ir/Ti(Al)N substrate. A study of ultra-violet (UV)-assisted rapid thermal processing (RTP) annealing strategies of the SBT thin films was performed. The influence of UV irradiation temperature and annealing atmosphere on the crystallinity of the deposited films was evaluated using both microstructural and electrical analysis techniques. A UV-RTP strategy in an oxygen atmosphere above 400 °C, followed by a furnace treatment at 700 °C, provided an optimum remnant polarization figure of merit.     

Structural and electrical properties of evaporated Fe thin films

Series of Fe thin films have been prepared by thermal evaporation onto glass and Si(1 0 0) substrates. The Rutherford backscattering (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the four point probe techniques have been used to investigate the structural and electrical properties of these Fe thin films as a function of the substrate, the Fe thickness t in the 76-431 nm range and the deposition rate. The Fe/Si samples have a 〈1 1 0〉 for all thicknesses, whereas the Fe/glass grows with a strong 〈1 0 0〉 texture; as t increases (>100 nm), the preferred orientation changes to 〈1 1 0〉. The compressive stress in Fe/Si remains constant over the whole thickness range and is greater than the one in Fe/glass which is relieved when t > 100 nm. The grain size D values are between 9.2 and 30 nm. The Fe/glass films are more electrically resistive than the Fe/Si(1 0 0) ones. Diffusion at the grain boundary seems to be the predominant factor in the electrical resistivity ρ values with the reflection coefficient R greater in Fe/glass than in Fe/Si. For the same thickness (100 nm), the decrease of the deposition rate from 4.3 to 0.3 Å/s did not affect the texture and the reflection coefficient R but led to an increase in D and a decrease in the strain and in ρ for both Fe/glass and Fe/Si systems. On the other hand, keeping the same deposition rate (0.3 Å/s) and increasing the thickness t from 76 to 100 nm induced different changes in the two systems.     

Study on solid structure of pentacene thin films using Raman imaging

We present a 532‐nm excited Raman imaging study of pentacene thin films (thickness, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 150 nm) prepared on an SiO₂ surface. The structure of the pentacene films has been investigated by images and histograms of the ratio (R) of intensity of the 1596‐cm⁻¹ band (b_3g) to that of the 1533‐cm⁻¹ band (a_g), which can be used as a marker of solid‐state phases: 1.54‐nm and 1.44‐nm phases. The Raman images showed that island‐like 1.44‐nm phase domains are grown on the 1.54‐nm phase layer from 50 nm, and all the surface of the 1.54‐nm phase layer is covered with the 1.44‐nm phase layer from 100 nm. The structural disorders have been discussed on the basis of the full width at half maximum of a band in the histogram of the R values for each film. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and optoelectronic properties of amorphous GaN thin films

Amorphous gallium nitride (a-GaN) thin films were deposited on glass substrate by electron beam evaporation technique at room temperature and high vacuum using N ₂ as carrier gas. The structural properties of the films was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was clear from XRD spectra and SEM study that the GaN thin films were amorphous. The absorbance, transmittance and reflectance spectra of these films were measured in the wavelength range of 300–2200 nm. The absorption coefficient spectral analysis in the sharp absorption region revealed a direct band gap of E _g = 3:1 eV. The data analysis allowed the determination of the dispersive optical parameters by calculating the refractive index. The oscillator energy E ₀ and the dispersion energy E _d, which is a measure of the average strength of inter-band optical transition or the oscillator strength, were determined. Electrical conductivity of a-GaN was measured in a different range of temperatures. Then, activation energy of a-GaN thin films was calculated which equalled E _a = 0:434 eV.     

红外薄膜中热应力的研究

由于红外薄膜材料和基板热膨胀系数显著不同,所以在高温基板上镀膜后降温将产生热应力,进而引起边界分层破裂现象,影响薄膜器件的牢固性.对薄膜厚度、杨氏模量和热膨胀系数对薄膜分层破裂的影响进行了研究,同时分析了薄膜设计对减小分层破裂的作用.这对减小红外薄膜系统因热应力引起的分层破裂现象具有实际应用价值. 关键词： 多层介质薄膜 红外 热应力 分层破裂