Effects of rapid thermal annealing on crystallinity and Sn surface segregation of Ge_(1-x)Sn_x films on Si(100) and Si(111)

Germanium-tin films with rather high Sn content(28.04% and 29.61%) are deposited directly on Si(100) and Si(111)substrates by magnetron sputtering. The mechanism of the effect of rapid thermal annealing on the Sn surface segregation of Ge_(1-x)Sn_x films is investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and atomic force microscopy(AFM). The x-ray diffraction(XRD) is also performed to determine the crystallinities of the Ge_(1-x)Sn_x films. The experimental results indicate that root mean square(RMS) values of the annealed samples are comparatively small and have no noticeable changes for the as-grown sample when annealing temperature is below 400℃. The diameter of the Sn three-dimensional(3 D) island becomes larger than that of an as-grown sample when the annealing temperature is 700℃. In addition, the Sn surface composition decreases when annealing temperature ranges from 400℃ to 700℃. However, Sn bulk compositions in samples A and B are kept almost unchanged when the annealing temperature is below 600℃. The present investigation demonstrates that the crystallinity of Ge_(1-x)Sn_x/Si(111) has no obvious advantage over that of Ge_(1-x)Sn_x/Si(100) and the selection of Si(111) substrate is an effective method to improve the surface morphologies of Ge_(1-x)Sn_x films. We also find that more severe Sn surface segregation occurs in the Ge_(1-x)Sn_x/Si(111) sample during annealing than in the Ge_(1-x)Sn_x/Si(100) sample.     

The influence of substrate temperature variation on tungsten oxide thin film growth in an HFCVD system

Tungsten oxide (WO₃) thin films were deposited by a modified hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique using Si (1 0 0) substrates. The substrate temperature was varied from room temperature to 430 °C at an interval of 100 °C. The influence of the substrate temperature on the structural and optical properties of the WO₃ films was studied. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra show that as substrate temperature increases the film tends to crystallize from the amorphous state and the surface roughness decreases sharply after 230 °C as confirmed from AFM image analysis. Also from the X-ray analysis it is evident that the substrate orientation plays a key role in growth. There is a sharp peak for samples on Si substrate due to texturing. The film thickness also decreases as substrate temperature increases. UV-vis spectra show that as substrate temperature increases the film property changes from metallic to insulating behavior due to changing stoichiometry, which was confirmed by XPS analysis.     

Effect of substrate temperature on structural, optical and electrical properties of pulsed laser ablated nanostructured indium oxide films

Nanocrystalline indium oxide (INO) films are deposited in a back ground oxygen pressure at 0.02 mbar on quartz substrates at different substrate temperatures (T_s) ranging from 300 to 573 K using pulsed laser deposition technique. The films are characterized using GIXRD, XPS, AFM and UV-visible spectroscopy to study the effect of substrate temperature on the structural and optical properties of films. The XRD patterns suggest that the films deposited at room temperature are amorphous in nature and the crystalline nature of the films increases with increase in substrate temperature. Films prepared at T_s ≥ 473 K are polycrystalline in nature (cubic phase). Crystalline grain size calculation based on Debye Scherrer formula indicates that the particle size enhances with the increase in substrate temperature. Lattice constant of the films are calculated from the XRD data. XPS studies suggest that all the INO films consist of both crystalline and amorphous phases. XPS results show an increase in oxygen content with increase in substrate temperature and reveals that the films deposited at higher substrate temperatures exhibit better stoichiometry. The thickness measurements using interferometric techniques show that the film thickness decreases with increase in substrate temperature. Analysis of the optical transmittance data of the films shows a blue shift in the values of optical band gap energy for the films compared to that of the bulk material owing to the quantum confinement effect due to the presence of quantum dots in the films. Refractive index and porosity of the films are also investigated. Room temperature DC electrical measurements shows that the INO films investigated are having relatively high electrical resistivity in the range of 0.80-1.90 Ωm. Low temperature electrical conductivity measurements in the temperature range of 50-300 K for the film deposited at 300 K give a linear Arrhenius plot suggesting thermally activated conduction. Surface morphology studies of the films using AFM reveal the formation of nanostructured indium oxide thin films.     

Influence of substrate temperature and ion-beam energy on the syntheses of aluminium nitride thin films by nitrogen-ion-assisted pulsed-laser deposition

Aluminium nitride (AlN) thin films have been grown on Si(100), Si(111) and Sapphire Al₂O₃(001) substrates by pulsed KrF excimer laser (wavelength 248 nm, duration 30 ns) ablation of an AlN target with the assistance of nitrogen-ion-beam bombardment. The influence of process parameters such as substrate temperature and ion-beam energy has been investigated in order to obtain high-quality AlN films. The AlN films deposited by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the crystalline quality, grain size and growth orientation with respect to the substrate. The XRD spectra of AlN films on Si(100), Si(111) and Sapphire substrates yield full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) values of approximately 1.6. The bonding characteristics in the films have been evaluated by Raman spectroscopy. The chemical composition of the films has been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface morphology of the films has been measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). At a substrate temperature of at least 600 °C, polycrystalline AlN films with orientations of AlN(100) and AlN(101) have been synthesized. PACS 68.55.-a; 81.15.Fg; 77.84.Bw     

SiO2/Si衬底上石墨烯的制备与结构表征

在分子束外延(MBE)设备中,利用直接沉积C原子的方法在覆盖有SiO₂的Si衬底(SiO₂/Si)上生长石墨烯,并通过Raman光谱和近边X射线吸收精细结构谱等实验技术对不同衬底温度(500℃,600℃,700℃,900℃,1100℃,1200℃)生长的薄膜进行结构表征.实验结果表明,在衬底温度较低时生长的薄膜是无定形碳,在衬底温度高于700℃时薄膜具有石墨烯的特征,而且石墨烯的结晶质量随着衬底温度的升高而改善,但过高的衬底温度会使石墨烯质量降低.衬底温度为1100℃时结晶质量最好.衬底温度较低时C原子活性较低,难以形成有序的C-sp²六方环.而衬底温度过高时(1200℃),衬底表面部分SiO₂分解,C原子与表面的Si原子或者O原子结合而阻止石墨烯的形成,并产生表面缺陷导致石墨烯结晶变差.     

Magnesium incorporation efficiencies in Mg_xZn_(1-x)O films on ZnO substrates grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

We investigate the magnesium(Mg) incorporation efficiencies in Mg_xZn_(1-x)O films on c-plane Zn-face ZnO substrates by using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD) technique. In order to deposit high quality Mg_xZn_(1-x)O films,atomically smooth epi-ready surfaces of the hydrothermal grown ZnO substrates are achieved by thermal annealing in O_2 atmosphere and characterized by atomic force microscope(AFM). The AFM, scanning electron microscope(SEM),and x-ray diffraction(XRD) studies demonstrate that the Mg_xZn_(1-x)O films each have flat surface and hexagonal wurtzite structure without phase segregation at up to Mg content of 34.4%. The effects of the growth parameters including substrate temperature, reactor pressure and Ⅵ/Ⅱ ratio on Mg content in the films are investigated by XRD analysis based on Vegard's law, and confirmed by photo-luminescence spectra and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well. It is indicated that high substrate temperature, low reactor pressure, and high Ⅵ/Ⅱratio are good for obtaining high Mg content.     

Thermal and optical properties of Cd2SnO4 thin films using photoacoustic spectroscopy

Cadmium stannate (Cd₂SnO₄) thin films were prepared by the RF magnetron sputtering technique on glass substrates with substrate temperatures of room temperature (RT), 100°C, 200°C and 300°C. Photoacoustic analyses were made to obtain the thermal diffusivity and the optical bandgap values of the Cd₂SnO₄ thin films. The change in thermal diffusivity of the films with the substrate temperature was analyzed. The optical bandgap values obtained from the photoacoustic spectroscopy were compared with the values obtained from the optical transmittance spectra. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) studies confirm the formation of stoichiometric films. Surface morphological studies by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the crystalline nature of the films deposited at 100°C.     

Evaluation of carbon films electrodeposited on different substrates from different organic solvents

Diamond-like-carbon (DLC) films have been deposited on Si, aluminum and indium tin oxide-coated glass from several organic solvents with pulse-modulated power. The films are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. XPS spectra show that the main composition of the films is carbon and Raman spectra show that the films are typical DLC films and a high potential is preferable in the formation of sp ³-structure carbon. Comparing the results from different solvents and different substrates we deduce that the methyl group of the solvents has a critical function in forming the DLC films. However, the formation process and the characters of the films, such as appearance, resistivity and thickness, are mainly determined by the substrate. We may call this deposition a substrate-controlled reaction. Received: 31 May 2000 / Accepted: 9 January 2001 / Published online: 3 April 2001     

Correlation between substrate bias, growth process and structural properties of phosphorus incorporated tetrahedral amorphous carbon films

We investigate the growth process and structural properties of phosphorus incorporated tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C:P) films which are deposited at different substrate biases by filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique with PH₃ as the dopant source. The films are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, residual stress measurement, UV/VIS/NIR absorption spectroscopy and temperature-dependent conductivity measurement. The atomic fraction of phosphorus in the films as a function of substrate bias is obtained by XPS analysis. The optimum bias for phosphorus incorporation is about −80 V. Raman spectra show that the amorphous structures of all samples with atomic-scaled smooth surface are not remarkably changed when PH₃ is implanted, but some small graphitic crystallites are formed. Moreover, phosphorus impurities and higher-energetic impinging ions are favorable for the clustering of sp² sites dispersed in sp³ skeleton and increase the level of structural ordering for ta-C:P films, which further releases the compressive stress and enhances the conductivity of the films. Our analysis establishes an interrelationship between microstructure, stress state, electrical properties, and substrate bias, which helps to understand the deposition mechanism of ta-C:P films.     

基片温度对磁控溅射HfO2薄膜结构和性能影响分析

在纯氧条件下,采用直流磁控溅射技术在单晶硅基片上沉积氧化铪（HfO2）薄膜,并研究了沉积过程中基片温度对薄膜结构和性能的影响规律。利用X射线衍射仪（XRD）和X射线能谱（XPS）表征了薄膜的晶体结构和组分,利用原子力显微镜（AFM）观察薄膜表面形貌,利用纳米力学测试系统表征了薄膜的纳米硬度和弹性模量。结果表明:磁控溅射制备的HfO2薄膜样品呈(111)择优生长,其晶粒尺寸随着基片温度的升高而增大,但其晶型并不发生转变。随着基片温度的增加,基片中的硅元素向薄膜内扩散,影响了薄膜的化学计量比。沉积薄膜的表面形貌和力学性能亦受到其结构和组分变化的影响。在200 ℃条件下制备的HfO2薄膜纯度高,O、Hf元素化学计量达到了1.99,其表面质量和力学性能均达到了最佳值,随着基片温度升高至300 ℃以上,薄膜纯度下降,表面质量和力学性能均产生劣化。     

脉冲激光沉积制备MgxNi1-xO合金薄膜的表征及光学性质研究

应用脉冲激光沉积(PLD)技术,固定脉冲激光能量密度为5 J/cm2,调节薄膜生长基底温度为300~700 ℃,制备了系列Mg_xNi_1-xO合金薄膜。通过透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、原子力显微术(AFM)等表征分析手段,详细分析了薄膜的成分及组织,研究了退火处理对样品的影响。通过UV-Vis分光光度计研究了透射光谱,结合理论计算了光学带隙宽度。结果表明:薄膜由非晶及多晶构成,紫外吸收边约为290 nm, 接近日盲波段的上限; 衬底温度为500 ℃、激光脉冲能量密度为5 J/cm2时生长的薄膜在短波部分吸收强烈,而长波部分几乎不吸收,有利于紫外探测; 退火处理改善了样品表面质量, 但不能有效拓宽光学带隙。     

Deposition and characterization of low temperature silicon nitride films deposited by inductively coupled plasma CVD

Silicon nitride films have been deposited at a low temperature (70 °C) by inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) technique and their physical and chemical properties were studied. For a deposited SiN sample, β-phase was observed and refractive index of 2.1 at 13.18 nm/min deposition rate was obtained. The attained stress of 0.08 GPa is lower as compared to the reported value of 1.1 GPa for SiN thin films. To study the deposited film, characterization was performed using X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), cross-section scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).     

生长温度对ZnO薄膜晶体质量和发光特性的影响

采用激光脉冲沉积法在Si(100)衬底上生长ZnO薄膜,衬底温度分别为室温,200℃,300℃,400℃和500℃.用X射线衍射仪、拉曼光谱、扫描电子显微镜对薄膜的微结构进行了测量,并测量了室温下薄膜的光致发光特性.结果表明,300℃时.ZnO具有最佳择优取向,随着衬底温度升高.衍射峰半峰全宽减小,薄膜晶粒尺寸增大,400℃时,薄膜具有各向等大的品粒尺寸.同时拉曼谱结果显示,薄膜内部的缺陷随衬底温度变化无明显差别,应力表现为张应力,400℃时应力最小,紫外发光峰在衬底温度为400℃时最强,而黄绿光带最弱.在减少薄膜缺陷,提高择优长向和晶粒尺寸的同时.使晶粒横向尺寸和纵向尺寸尽可能相同,可极大提高薄膜的发光特性.     

Temperature dependence of the optical properties of ZnSe films deposited on quartz substrate

ZnSe thin films were deposited by pulsed laser ablation on quartz substrate. The films were investigated by different characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, Raman microspectroscopy, absorption, reflectivity, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The XRD analysis showed the formation of cubic phase polycrystalline films. The Raman spectra confirmed the formation of ZnSe by the presence of TO and LO peaks at 202 cm^-1 and 252 cm^-1, respectively. The analysis of absorption and reflectivity measurements permits evaluation of the band gap and excitonic energy at low temperature and the temperature dependence of the energy gap. The photoluminescence measurements indicated the possibility of obtaining intrinsic band-band radiative emission up to room temperature. PACS 52.38.Mf; 78.55.-m; 78.55.Et     

生长温度对磁控溅射ZnO薄膜的结晶特性和光学性能的影响

采用反应射频磁控溅射方法，在Si (100) 基片上制备了具有高c轴择优取向的ZnO薄膜.利用 原子力显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X射线衍射分析、拉曼光谱等表征技术，研究了沉积温度 对ZnO薄膜的表面形貌、晶粒尺度、应力状态等结晶性能的影响；通过沉积温度对透射光谱 和光致荧光光谱的影响，探讨了ZnO薄膜的结晶特性与光学性能之间的关系.研究结果显示， 在室温至500℃的范围内，ZnO薄膜的晶粒尺寸随沉积温度的增加而增加，在沉积温度为500 ℃时达到最大；当沉积温度为750℃时，ZnO薄膜的晶粒尺度有所减小；在室温至750℃的范 围内，薄膜中ZnO晶粒与Si基体之间均存在着相对固定的外延关系；在沉积温度低于500℃时 ，制备的ZnO薄膜处于压应变状态，而750℃时沉积的薄膜表现为张应变状态.沉积温度的不 同导致ZnO薄膜的折射率、消光系数、光学禁带宽度以及光致荧光特性的变化，沉积温度对 紫外光致荧光特性起着决定性的作用.此外，探讨了影响薄膜近紫外光致荧光发射的可能因 素. 关键词： ZnO薄膜 表面形貌 微观结构 光学常数     

The influence of SixNy interlayer on GaN film grown on Si(111) substrate

A method to drastically reduce dislocation density in a GaN film grown on an Si(111) substrate is newly developed. In this method, the Si_xN_y interlayer which is deposited on an AlN buffer layer in situ is introduced to grow the GaN film laterally. The crack-free GaN film with thickness over 1.7 micron is grown on an Si(111) substrate successfully. Synthesized GaN epilayer is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), and Raman spectrum. The test results show that the GaN crystal reveals a wurtzite structure with the <0001> crystal orientation and the full width at half maximum of the X-ray diffraction curve in the (0002) plane is as low as 403 arcsec for the GaN film grown on the Si substrate with an Si_xN_y interlayer. In addition, Raman scattering is used to study the stress in the sample. The results indicate that the Si_xN_y interlayer can more effectively accommodate the strain energy. So the dislocation density can be reduced drastically, and the crystal quality of GaN film can be greatly improved by introducing Si_xN_y interlayer.     

氮气氛中高温退火对ZnO薄膜发光性质的影响

以二乙基锌和水汽分别作为锌源和氧源,用LP-MOCVD方法在p型Si(100)衬底上生长了单一取向的ZnO薄膜。对得到的样品在氮气气氛中进行高温热处理,退火温度分别为900,1000,1100℃。利用室温PL谱、XRD、AFM、XPS等方法对样品的性质进行了研究。研究表明:(1)随着退火温度的升高,样品的结晶性质也逐渐提高,从表面形貌观察到晶粒尺寸逐渐增大;(2)当退火温度从900℃升高至1000℃时,样品的光致发光谱中可见光波段的发光强度有所减弱,而紫外波段的发光强度明显增强;当退火温度升高至1100℃时,可见光波段的发光几乎完全被抑制,而紫外波段的发光强度急剧增强。分析认为,高温退火改善晶体结晶质量的同时调制了样品的Zn/O比,氮气气氛下的热处理使得样品内的氧原子逸出,来自受主缺陷OZn的可见发射随温度升高逐渐减弱,而当退火温度达到1000℃以上时样品成为富锌状态,此时与施主缺陷Zni有关的紫外发射急剧增强。     

Effects of carbonization and substrate temperature on the growth of 3C-SiC on Si(1 1 1) by SSMBE

The growth of 3C-SiC on Si(1 1 1) substrate was performed at different carbonization temperatures and substrate temperatures by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy (SSMBE). The properties of SiC film were analyzed with in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The best carbonization temperature of 810 °C was found to be optimal for the surface carbonization. The quality of SiC film grown on Si at substrate temperature of 1000 °C is best. The worse crystalline quality for the sample grown at higher temperature was attributed to the large mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient between SiC and Si which caused more dislocation when sample was cooled down to room temperature from higher substrate temperature. Furthermore, the larger size of single pit and the total area of the pits make the quality of SiC films grown at higher temperature worse. More Si atoms for the sample grown at lower temperature were responsible for the degradation of crystalline quality for the sample grown at lower temperature.     

Surface modification of cobalt-chromium-tungsten-nickel alloy using octadecyltrichlorosilanes

Cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys have been extensively used for medical implants because of their excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. This first time study reports the formation and stability of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a Co-Cr-W-Ni alloy. SAMs of octadecyltrichlorosilanes (OTS) were coated on sputtered Co-Cr-W-Ni alloy thin film and bulk Co-Cr-W-Ni alloy. OTS SAM coated alloy specimens were characterized using contact angle goniometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Contact angle analysis and FTIR suggested that ordered monolayers were coated on both sputtered and bulk alloy. XPS suggested the selective dissolution of cobalt from the alloy during the formation of OTS SAM. The bonding between the alloy and the OTS SAM was mainly attributed to Si-O-Cr and Si-O-W covalent bonds and a smaller contribution from Si-O-Co bonds. AFM images showed the distribution of islands of monolayers coated on the alloy. The height of monolayers in majority of the islands was closer to the theoretical length of fully extended OTS molecules oriented perpendicular to the surface. The stability of OTS SAM was investigated in tris-buffered saline at 37 °C for up to 7 days. Contact angle, FTIR, and XPS collectively confirmed that the monolayers remain ordered and bound to the alloy surface under this condition. This study shows that Co-Cr alloys can be surface modified using SAMs for potential biomedical applications.     

Electrodeposition of diamond-like amorphous carbon films on aluminum from acetonitrile

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were electrodeposited on aluminum from acetonitrile with a pulse-modulated power at room temperature. The films were grey with 1 7m in thickness. The resistivity of the films was of the order of 10⁷ Q cm The films were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. XPS shows that the main composition of the films is carbon. Raman spectra indicate that typical DLC films were formed when high potential (>800 V) was applied.