Photocatalytic properties of TiO2 thin films obtained by glancing angle deposition

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films with different nanostructures such as nano-particles and separated vertical columns were grown by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) in an electron beam evaporation system. The photocatalytic properties of grown TiO₂ films with different deposition angles and different annealing temperatures were evaluated by following decomposition of methyl orange under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The results suggest that increased surface area due to the GLAD process could improve the photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ films.     

Optical and mechanical properties of AlF3 films produced by pulse magnetron sputtering of Al targets with CF4/O2 gas

In this study, AlF₃ thin films were deposited by pulse magnetron sputtering of Al targets with different ratios of CF₄/O₂ gas and at different sputtering powers. The optical and mechanical properties of the AlF₃ thin films were analyzed. The transmittance spectra showed no obvious negative inhomogeneous refractive indices. Denser films with a low optical absorption were obtained when high sputtering powers were used (larger than 30 W). The lowest extinction coefficient (7.3 × 10⁻⁴ at 193 nm) of the films can be reached with 12 sccm O₂ flow rate and at 160W sputtering power. All of the residual stresses were compressive and their trends were consistent with the refractive indices. The lowest compressive stress (0.068 GPa) was obtained when the AlF₃ films were prepared at 160W sputtering power.     

Structural, dielectric and electromechanical study of Hf-substituted BaTiO3 thin films fabricated by CSD

Hafnium-substituted barium titanate thin films were deposited on platinized silicon substrates. Two different concentrations of solutions (0.1 M and 0.3 M) were used to deposit films of various compositions Ba(Ti_1-x,Hf_x)O₃ (x=0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4). The microstructure of the films depended on the concentration of the solution. Lower concentration (0.1 M) solutions led to columnar films, but with higher hafnium percent compositions the columnar structure was lost. The films which were derived from the 0.1 M concentration solutions had better dielectric and electrical properties compared to the films derived from a higher concentration (0.3 M). All the films were found to be polycrystalline in nature. The dielectric constant of the films was found to decrease with higher amounts of hafnium substitution. From the I–V characteristics it is noticed that the leakage decreases by almost four orders of magnitude with a hafnium substitution of 40%. The d₃₃ values of the films were between 23 and 5.6 pm/V for the different films. PACS 68.55.-a; 81.20.Fw; 77.84.Dy; 77.55.+f     

Sb掺和对TeOx薄膜光学和静态记录特性的影响

以真空蒸镀法在K9玻璃基底上制备了TeO_x:Sb单层薄膜,对薄膜的结构、光学和静态记录特性进行了研究.结果表明,Sb掺和后TeO_x薄膜的结构、反射光谱和光学常量均发生了明显变化.TeO_x:Sb薄膜具有良好的写入灵敏性并具有了一定的可擦除性能,该类薄膜有望作为可擦除光存储介质.     

Growth and characterization of silicon nitride films on various underlying materials

Characteristics of silicon nitride (SiN_x:H) films, grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on various metals such as Ta, IrMn, NiFe, Cu, and CoFe at various temperatures down to 100 °C, were studied using measurements of BHF etch rate, surface roughness and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The results were compared with those obtained for SiN_x:H films on Si. The deposition rate of SiN_x:H films increased slightly as deposition temperature decreased, and showed a weak dependence on the underlying materials. The surface of the nitride films deposited on all underlying materials at lower temperatures (below 150 °C) became rougher. In particular, a bubble-like surface was observed on the nitride film deposited on NiFe at 100 °C. At higher deposition temperatures (above 200 °C), SiN_x:H films on all the above metals had small RMS values, except for films on Cu which cracked at 250 °C. BHF (10:1) etch rate increased dramatically for nitride films deposited below 150 °C. For different underlying films, the BHF etch rate was quite different, but exhibited the same trend with decrease in deposition temperature. AES measurements showed that Si and N concentrations in the SiN_x:H films were only slightly different for the various deposition temperatures and underlying materials. AES depth profile of nitride films indicated that both surface O content and the depth of oxygen penetrating into SiN_x:H increased for low temperature-deposited films. However, there was no observed oxygen signal from within the films, even for films deposited at 100 °C, and both Si and N concentrations were uniform throughout the film. Received: 26 October 2001 / Accepted: 2 March 2001 / Published online: 20 June 2001     

The microwave response of MgB2 /Al2O3 superconducting thin films

Microwave characteristics of MgB2/Al2O3 superconducting thin films were investigated by coplanar resonator technique. The thin films studied have different grain sizes resulting from different growth techniques. The experimental results can be described very well by a grain-size model which combines coplanar resonator theory and Josephson junction network model. It was found that the penetration depth and surface resistance of thin films with smaller grain sizes are larger than those of thin films with larger grain sizes.     

Study of ion bombardment effect for Alq3 films

This paper investigated the blue shift of photoluminescence and the changes of surface morphology of Alq₃ films by ionic argon plasma bombardment. Plasma with different conditions was applied to bombard thin Alq₃ films, modifying both the physical and chemical properties of the films. After characterizing Alq₃ films treated with different RF power by XPS, PL and AFM, we proposed the mechanisms to explain the absence of PL blue shift and chemical shift after the films were exposed in the air for more than 3 h. Experimental results showed that molecular structure damages would affect the bandgap of Alq₃, leading to the blue shift effect. XPS results also showed that binding energy shifts are caused by enriched oxygen covalent bonds formed inside the films after plasma treatment. Also, surface roughness improves as RF power is increased.     

Structural,optical and electrical properties of tin oxide thin films by electrostatic spray deposition

Tin oxide (SnO₂) thin films were deposited by electrostatic spray deposition (ESD). The structural, optical and electrical properties of the films for different solvents were studied. The morphology of the deposited thin films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The optical transmission spectra of the films showed 66–75% transmittance in the visible region of spectrum. The electrical resistivity of thin films deposited using the different solvents ranged 1.08 × 10^?3–1.34 × 10^?3 Ω-cm. Overall, EG and PG were good solvents for depositing SnO₂ thin films by the ESD technique with stable cone jet.     

Effect of thermal annealing on the formation of silicon nanoclusters in SiOX films grown by PLD

Silicon nanoclusters formation in pulsed laser deposited (PLD) silicon suboxide (SiO_X) films by thermal annealing is reported. The SiO_X films are prepared by ablation of silicon target at different oxygen partial pressures. The different deposition conditions are employed to study the effect of oxygen concentration on the size of the nanoclusters. Post deposition thermal annealing of the films leads to the phase separation in silicon suboxide films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy studies were carried out to characterize the formation of silicon nanoclusters in SiO_X films.     

Au/SiO2纳米多层薄膜的制备及其性质表征

利用多靶磁控溅射技术制备了Au/SiO₂纳米颗粒分散氧化物多层复合薄膜.研究了在保持Au单层颗粒膜沉积时间一定时薄膜厚度一定、变化SiO₂的沉积时间及SiO₂的沉积时间一定而改变薄膜厚度时，多层薄膜在薄膜厚度方向的微观结构对吸收光谱的影响.研究结果表明：具有纳米层状结构的Au/SiO₂多层薄膜在560 nm波长附近有明显的表面等离子共振吸收峰，吸收峰的强度随Au颗粒的浓度增加而增强，在Au颗粒浓度相同的情况下，复合薄膜 关键词： 2纳米复合薄膜')" href="#">Au/SiO₂纳米复合薄膜 多靶磁控溅射 吸收光谱 有效介质理论     

Tribological properties of the Ti-Al-N thin films with different components fabricated by double-targeted co-sputtering

Ti-Al-N films with different chemical compositions were deposited on stainless steel by changing the relative substrate position to targets using double-targeted reactive magnetron sputtering technique in the same process. The tribological behavior of the Ti-Al-N films was investigated in the temperature ranging from room temperature to elevated temperature in air without any lubricant on UMT-3 multifunctional friction and wear tribometer. The structure of the as-deposited films and the worn surface after tribometer testing were identified using XRD, EDS and SEM. It was found that the chemical composition of the as-deposited films altered with substrate position from Ti_0.82Al_0.18N to Ti_0.12Al_0.88N. XRD results revealed that the sputtered films before heat treatment were amorphous, but different phases such as TiN, AlN and TiAlN were formed after heat treatment of 700 °C × 1 h. Friction and wear tests indicated the films with x = 0.57, 0.65 exhibited the best tribological performance during the Ti_1−xAl_xN films system because of its hard phase and the formation of transfer films.     

Structural and optical properties of Er, Yb co-doped Y2O3 thin films

Thin Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ co-doped Y₂O₃ films were grown on (1 0 0) YAG substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Ceramic targets having different active ion concentration were used for ablation. The influence of the rare-earth content and oxygen pressure applied during the deposition on the structural, morphological and optical properties of the films were investigated. The films deposited at the lower pressure, 1 Pa, and at 1/10 Er to Yb doping ratio are highly textured along the (1 1 1) direction of the Y₂O₃ cubic phase. In addition to the crystalline structure, these films possess smoother surface compared to those prepared at the higher pressure, 10 Pa. All other films are polycrystalline, consisting of cubic and monoclinic phases of Y₂O₃. The rougher surface of the films produced at the higher-pressure leads to higher scattering losses and different behavior of the reflectivity spectra. Optical anisotropy in the films of less than 0.004 was measured regardless of the monoclinic structure obtained. Waveguide losses of about 1 dB/cm at 633 nm were obtained for the films produced at the lower oxygen pressure.     

Magnetic properties of oxygenated carbon nitride films from RF-discharge in an acetylene, nitrogen, and oxygen mixture environments

Properties of oxygenated carbon nitride films have attracted the attention of physics researchers due to their magnetic and physical properties, as well as for their usefulness in the industry. The free radicals were investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance applied in the study of spin concentration due to the different mechanism of preparation of carbon nitride films by RF-discharge with different kinds of plasma. Unpaired spin concentrations, in the order of 10²⁰ per cm³, were measured and their time recombination dependency was important in those films. The films were grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using mixtures of hydrocarbons, N₂ and O₂ in different proportions.     

The transparence comparison of Ga- and Al-doped ZnO thin films

The Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) and Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films were grown on quartz glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition under different oxygen partial pressures (PO₂). The transparent performances of films versus properties of structure and conductivity were discussed. With the increase of PO₂, the transmittance of both GZO films and AZO films increased to maximum and then decreased which were in according with the change of crystallization quality. The transmittance of GZO films was higher than that of AZO films, which were not dominated by the impurity ions induced by doping. AFM images and surface roughness mean square coefficients showed that the surfaces of GZO films were smoother than that of AZO films, which were due to the dopant Ga acting as the surfactant and smoothed the GZO films surface.     

Co:BaTiO3/Si(100)纳米复合薄膜制备、微结构及其紫外光电子能谱研究

采用脉冲激光气相沉积(PLD)方法,在Si(100)晶面上制备了Co:BaTiO₃纳米复合薄膜.采用X射线衍射(XRD)结合透射电镜(TEM)方法研究了两种厚度Co:BaTiO₃纳米复合薄膜的晶体结构,当薄膜厚度约为30 nm时,薄膜为单一择优取向;当薄膜厚度约为100nm时,薄膜呈多晶结构.原子力显微镜(AFM)分析表明,当膜厚为30nm时,薄膜呈现明显的方形晶粒.采用紫外光电子能谱(UPS)研究了Co的价态和Co:BaTiO₃纳米复合薄 关键词： 3')" href="#">BaTiO₃ 纳米复合薄膜 紫外光电子能谱     

Co:BaTiO3/Si(100)纳米复合薄膜制备、微结构及其紫外光电子能谱研究

采用脉冲激光气相沉积(PLD)方法，在Si(100)晶面上制备了Co:BaTiO₃纳米复合薄膜.采用X射线衍射(XRD)结合透射电镜(TEM)方法研究了两种厚度Co:BaTiO₃纳米复合薄膜的晶体结构，当薄膜厚度约为30 nm时，薄膜为单一择优取向；当薄膜厚度约为100nm时，薄膜呈多晶结构.原子力显微镜(AFM)分析表明，当膜厚为30nm时，薄膜呈现明显的方形晶粒.采用紫外光电子能谱(UPS)研究了Co的价态和Co:BaTiO₃纳米复合薄     

微波ECR磁控溅射制备SiNx薄膜的XPS结构研究

利用微波电子回旋共振等离子体增强非平衡磁控溅射法在不同N₂流量下制备无氢SiN_x薄膜.通过X光电子能谱、纳米硬度仪等表征技术,研究了不同N₂流量下制备的SiN_x薄膜的化学键结构、化学键含量、元素配比及各元素沿深度分布.研究结果表明,N₂流量是影响SiN_x薄膜化学键结构、元素配比、元素延深度分布等性质的主要因素.在N_{2关键词： x}')" href="#">SiN_x 磁控溅射 XPS 化学键结构     

Effects of substrate temperature and oxygen pressure on the magnetic properties and structures of CoFe2O4 thin films prepared by pulsed-laser deposition

CoFe₂O₄ thin films were grown on silicon substrates by pulsed-laser deposition techniques at various temperatures from 350 °C to 700 °C and different pressures from 0.1 Pa to 10 Pa. The CoFe₂O₄ films with highly (1 1 1)-preferred orientation and smooth surfaces were obtained. The high coercivities of the films were attributed to the residual stress in the films, and the saturation magnetizations were mainly dependent on the oxygen pressure. Higher oxygen pressure could decrease the oxygen deficiencies in the films. Sufficient oxygen ions in the films enhanced the exchange interactions between the magnetic ions, as a result, increasing the saturation magnetization.     

Effect of dispersion degree of orientation on dielectric properties of (100)-oriented PST thin film

(100) Oriented (Pb_xSr_1−x)TiO₃ (PST) thin films were prepared on indium tin oxide coated glass substrates by sol–gel technique with rapid thermal processing. The dielectric permittivity and tunability of the thin films with different dispersion degrees of orientation were investigated in detail by characterizing the full width at half maximum of their (100) peak based on rocking curves at different annealing temperatures. Influence of orientation dispersion on dielectric properties was exhibited in the tunable dielectric thin films. It shows that the dielectric constant and hence the tunability of the sol–gel derived PST thin films are improved with the decrease in the dispersion degree of orientation of the perovskite phase other than the increase in the content of crystalline phase in the thin films. The dielectric constant (capacitance) and figure of merit of the oriented thin films are 3–6 times and 1 times higher than that of randomly oriented thin film respectively.     

Effect of sputtering anisotropic ejection on the optical properties and residual stress of Nb2O5 thin films

The effect of sputtering anisotropic ejection on the optical properties and internal stress of niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) films prepared by ion-beam sputtering deposition (IBSD) was investigated experimentally. Thin films were deposited on unheated BK7 glass substrates and silicon wafers at different ejection angles surrounding a metal target. The ejection angles varied from 0° to 75° in increments of 15° for each substrate. It was found that the optical constants of the Nb₂O₅ films were significantly influenced by the sputtering ejection angle. The surface roughness and residual stress in the Nb₂O₅ thin films were also found to vary with the ejection angle. In this work, Nb₂O₅ films had a higher refractive index, lower absorption, lower stress and lower roughness when films deposited at an ejection angle of 30°.