Fabrication and analysis of ZnO thin film bulk acoustic resonators

This study employs RF magnetron sputter technique to deposit high C-axis preferred orientation ZnO thin film on silicon substrate, which is then used as the piezoelectric thin film for a thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR). Electrical properties of the FBAR component were investigated by sputtering a ZnO thin film on various bottom electrode materials, as well as varying sputter power, sputter pressure, substrate temperature, argon and oxygen flow rate ratio, so that structural parameters of each layer were changed. The experimental results show that when sputter power is 200 W, sputter pressure is 10 mTorr, substrate temperature is 300 °C, and argon to oxygen ratio is 4:6, the ZnO thin film has high C-axis preferred orientation. The FBAR component made in this experiment show that different bottom electrode materials have great impact on components. In the experiment, the Pt bottom electrode resonant frequency was clearly lower than the Mo bottom electrode resonant frequency, because Pt has higher mass density and lower acoustic wave rate. The component resonant frequency will decrease as ZnO thin film thickness increases; when top electrode thickness is higher, its resonant frequency also drops, due to top electrode mass loading effect and increased acoustic wave path. Therefore, ZnO thin film and top/bottom electrode thickness can be fine-tuned according to the required resonant frequency.     

薄膜体声波谐振器的伽马辐照敏感机理分析

实验证明薄膜体声波谐振器(FBAR)用于检测伽马辐照是可行的,但未对敏感机理进行深入研究。针对这一问题,根据两种不同的FBAR结构,提出了不同机理来解释FBAR在伽马辐照下谐振频率偏移的原因。其中结构一FBAR为四层叠层结构（金属层-压电层-氧化层-金属层）,伽马辐照之后,会在辐照敏感层(氧化层)形成一个电压,相当于给压电层施加了一个直流电压,从而使谐振频率发生偏移;结构二与结构一不同的是,结构二FBAR在氧化层和压电层之间有一半导体层,辐照之后在氧化层中形成的电压改变了半导体的表面势,使半导体空间电荷层电容发生改变,从而改变谐振频率。通过仿真得到两种不同机理的结果,并与相关文献的测试结果对比,发现频率偏移的趋势和频率偏移量的数量级是相同的,因此提出来的两种机理是可行的。     

薄膜体声波谐振器的伽马辐照敏感机理分析

实验证明薄膜体声波谐振器(FBAR)用于检测伽马辐照是可行的,但未对敏感机理进行深入研究。针对这一问题,根据两种不同的FBAR结构,提出了不同机理来解释FBAR在伽马辐照下谐振频率偏移的原因。其中结构一FBAR为四层叠层结构（金属层-压电层-氧化层-金属层）,伽马辐照之后,会在辐照敏感层(氧化层)形成一个电压,相当于给压电层施加了一个直流电压,从而使谐振频率发生偏移;结构二与结构一不同的是,结构二FBAR在氧化层和压电层之间有一半导体层,辐照之后在氧化层中形成的电压改变了半导体的表面势,使半导体空间电荷层电容发生改变,从而改变谐振频率。通过仿真得到两种不同机理的结果,并与相关文献的测试结果对比,发现频率偏移的趋势和频率偏移量的数量级是相同的,因此提出来的两种机理是可行的。     

A new model for film bulk acoustic wave resonators

Based on cavity resonance and sandwich composite plate （3D） theoretical model for frequency dispersion characterization theory, this paper presents a universal three-dimensional and displacement profile shapes of the film bulk acoustic resonator （FBARs）. This model provides results of FBAR excited thickness-extensional and flexure modes, and the result of frequency dispersion is proposed in which the thicknesses and impedance of the electrodes and the piezoelectric material are taken into consideration; its further simplification shows good agreement with the modified Butterworth-Van-Dyke （MBVD） model. The displacement profile reflects the vibration stress distribution of electrode shapes and the lateral resonance effect, which depends on the axis ratio of the electrode shapes a/b. The results are consistent with the 3D finite element method modeling and laser interferometry measurement in general.     

Two-step sputtered ZnO piezoelectric films for film bulk acoustic resonators

This study investigates high-performance ZnO piezoelectric films used for thin film bulk acoustic resonators (TFBAR). The ZnO piezoelectric film was deposited on a Pt/Ti electrode using an RF magnetron sputter by a two-step method at room temperature. The Pt/Ti electrode was deposited by a DC sputtering system, on which, ZnO piezoelectric films were deposited in one step and in two steps to minimize roughness in the first step and produce the preferred orientation in the second. Both field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atom force microscopy (AFM) revealed that ZnO piezoelectric film deposited by two-step sputtering exhibited favorable characteristics, such as a rigidly precise surface structure with surface roughness of 7.37 nm, even better than in one-step sputtering. Examining the ZnO thin film by X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed a much higher c-axis-preferring orientation than in one-step sputtering. The reflection coefficient of the resonator device was measured using an HP8720 network analyzer. The frequency response of the FBAR device exhibited a return loss of -25 dB at a resonant frequency of 2212 MHz with a high coupling coefficient of 6.7%. PACS 68.55.Jk; 43.35.Ns; 81.15.-z     

薄膜体声波谐振器性能模型参数的提取方法北大核心CSCD

薄膜体声波谐振器(FBAR)性能模型包含两个关系式:一个是FBAR有效机电耦合系数与其形状因子(面积与周长之比)的关系式,另一个是FBAR品质因数与其形状因子的关系式。前一个关系式中的参数为FBAR边缘区域的等效宽度,后一个关系式中的参数为表征FBAR横向声能泄漏的因子。为使性能模型用于不同膜层结构、材料及制备工艺的FBAR,建立FBAR性能模型参数的提取流程。以一种5层复合结构的FBAR为例,在同一晶片上,制备多个不同形状因子的FBAR。针对其中一个五边形FBAR,在ADS软件中通过Mason电路模型仿真得到其性能值(有效机电耦合系数和品质因数);再使用矢量网络分析仪和射频探针台实测其性能值。将仿真与实测得到的性能值代入FBAR性能模型,解算出这两个参数。确定参数之后,使用FBAR性能模型预测同一晶片上其它不同性能因子FBAR的有效机电耦合系数和品质因数,预测值的相对误差在3%之内,验证了该参数提取流程的有效性。     

薄膜体声波谐振器性能模型参数的提取方法

薄膜体声波谐振器(FBAR)性能模型包含两个关系式：一个是FBAR有效机电耦合系数与其形状因子(面积与周长之比)的关系式,另一个是FBAR品质因数与其形状因子的关系式。前一个关系式中的参数为FBAR边缘区域的等效宽度,后一个关系式中的参数为表征FBAR横向声能泄漏的因子。为使性能模型用于不同膜层结构、材料及制备工艺的FBAR,建立FBAR性能模型参数的提取流程。以一种5层复合结构的FBAR为例,在同一晶片上,制备多个不同形状因子的FBAR。针对其中一个五边形FBAR,在ADS软件中通过Mason电路模型仿真得到其性能值(有效机电耦合系数和品质因数);再使用矢量网络分析仪和射频探针台实测其性能值。将仿真与实测得到的性能值代入FBAR性能模型,解算出这两个参数。确定参数之后,使用FBAR性能模型预测同一晶片上其它不同性能因子FBAR的有效机电耦合系数和品质因数,预测值的相对误差在3%之内,验证了该参数提取流程的有效性。     

X-ray topography analysis of bulk acoustic wave resonators

X-ray topography is first used to totally examine the fundamental modes of acoustic oscillations in the bulk-acoustic-wave (BAW) resonator on the base of an AT-cut quartz crystal at the first and third harmonics. As is evident from the experiments, the anharmonic longitudinal oscillations of the resonator can be visualized, just as the fundamental transverse acoustic oscillations can be. The amplitude-frequency response (AFR) is related to the frequency dependence of diffracted x-ray intensity.     

Electrode effects on general modes in high-overtone bulk acoustic resonators

Generally, in theoretical calculations of high-overtone bulk acoustic resonators (HBAR), metal electrode effects were always ignored. However, the acoustical impedance, thickness and loss of the electrodes affect practically the performances of HBAR operating at high-frequency. For very high-frequency cases, the thickness of the metal electrode is always on the same order of that of the piezo-film and the electrode effects on modes cannot be negligible. In this paper, based on the resonance frequency spectra and Butterworth Van Dyke equivalent circuit of HBAR, the effects of the material, loss, and thickness of the electrodes on the figure of merit, effective electromechanical coupling factor, quality factor, etc. are analyzed. It is demonstrated that the performance of HBAR can also be optimized by using the electrodes with proper impedance, loss and thickness.     

The effect on the annealing temperature of Li doped ZnO thin film for a film bulk acoustic resonator

We investigated the material and electrical properties of Li doped ZnO thin film (ZLO) with variation of the annealing temperature. In the 500 C sample, ZLO film showed well defined (002) c-axis orientation and a full width half-maximum property of 0.25. The electrical properties of ZLO thin films showed the excellent specific resistance of 1.5×10¹¹ Ω cm. Finally, the frequency characteristics of the ZLO thin film FBAR, according to the annealing temperature, showed improvement of the return loss from 24.48 to 30.02 dB at a resonant frequency of 1.17 GHz.     

高次谐波体声波谐振器谐振频率分布研究

基于由谐振频率分布提取压电薄膜参数的方法,研究影响高次谐波体声波谐振器(HBAR)谐振频率分布的因素。对多种HBAR进行模拟计算,模拟结果显示,变化基片对薄膜的声阻抗比值会引起并联谐振频率间隔的分布和有效机电耦合系数的分布改变;当薄膜的基模在高频时,改变电极对薄膜的声阻抗比值和电极厚度会引起谐振频率分布改变。这些结果表明,通过调整影响谐振频率分布的因素能使谐振频率变化,进而得到在特定的频率上产生谐振。     

薄膜体声波谐振器的力敏特性研究

薄膜体声波谐振器(FBAR)力传感器作为一种新型的谐振式传感器,力敏特性是其设计原理。以FBAR微加速度计为例研究了工作在纵波模式,采用具有纤锌矿结构的AlN作为压电薄膜的FBAR,施加应力载荷后,其弹性常数改变导致FBAR谐振频率偏移的力敏特性。首先,采用有限元(FEA)静力学仿真,得到惯性力载荷作用下集成在硅微悬臂梁上的压电薄膜的应力分布;选取最大应力值作为载荷,基于第一性原理计算纤锌矿AlN的弹性系数与应力的关系式,预测惯性力载荷作用下AlN弹性系数的最大变化量。其次,采用谐响应分析,对比空载和不同惯性力载荷作用下FBAR微加速度计的谐振频率和偏移特性,预测FBAR微加速度计的加速度-谐振频率偏移特性。最后仿真分析得到：惯性力载荷作用下,FBAR微加速度计的谐振频率向高频偏移,灵敏度约为数kHz/g;其加速度增量-谐振频率偏移特性曲线具有良好的线性度。     

薄膜体声波谐振器的力敏特性研究

薄膜体声波谐振器(FBAR)力传感器作为一种新型的谐振式传感器,力敏特性是其设计原理。以FBAR微加速度计为例研究了工作在纵波模式,采用具有纤锌矿结构的AlN作为压电薄膜的FBAR,施加应力载荷后,其弹性常数改变导致FBAR谐振频率偏移的力敏特性。首先,采用有限元(FEA)静力学仿真,得到惯性力载荷作用下集成在硅微悬臂梁上的压电薄膜的应力分布;选取最大应力值作为载荷,基于第一性原理计算纤锌矿AlN的弹性系数与应力的关系式,预测惯性力载荷作用下AlN弹性系数的最大变化量。其次,采用谐响应分析,对比空载和不同惯性力载荷作用下FBAR微加速度计的谐振频率和偏移特性,预测FBAR微加速度计的加速度-谐振频率偏移特性。最后仿真分析得到:惯性力载荷作用下,FBAR微加速度计的谐振频率向高频偏移,灵敏度约为数kHz/g;其加速度增量-谐振频率偏移特性曲线具有良好的线性度。     

Parameter characterization of high-overtone bulk acoustic resonators by resonant spectrum method

Effects of electrode on high-overtone bulk acoustic resonator (HBAR) spectra are analyzed by numerical simulation. The figure of merit (FOM), the effective electromechanical coupling factor, k(eff)(2)(m), and the quality factor Q(s) of the unique mode are discussed based on the resonance spectra of the HBAR. It is demonstrated that electrodes with proper acoustic impedance and thickness could improve the performance of the HBAR, or degrade the performance if the electrodes are not properly chosen.     

Microstructural studies of bulk and thin film GDC

Ceria rare earth solid solutions are known as solid electrolyte with potential application in oxygen sensors and solid oxide fuel cells. We report the preparation of gadolinia-doped ceria, Ce_0.90Gd_0.10O_1.95, by the conventional solid-state reaction method and the preparation of thin films from a sintered pellet of gadolinia-doped ceria by the pulsed laser deposition technique. The effect of process conditions, such as substrate temperature, oxygen partial pressure, and laser energy on microstructural properties of these films are examined using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.     

Charge transport across bulk heterojunction organic thin film

The transport of charges in organic photo-active film has been the focus of tremendous research in the past few decades with the view to understand the physics of the polymers. Bulk heterojunction type devices are particularly more interesting because of their high power conversion efficiency. We have fabricated organic PV cell based on sandwich type ITO/PEDOT:PSS/APFO green-6:PCBM/LiF/Al device structure. The space charge limited currents were investigated to be able to derive important transport parameters of the devices. The measured current agrees very well with trap free space charge limited transport theory. The zero field mobility and field activation factor found from the data were μ ₀=(3.39±0.2)×10⁻⁶ m²/V sec and γ=(8.3±0.3)×10⁻⁴ (m/V)^1/2, respectively.     

Effect of electrodes on the properties of a thin ferroelectric film

The effect of various metal electrodes on the properties of thin ferroelectric films is considered using the phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory. The electric field produced by charges on electrodes is taken into account (with allowance for the screening of the charges in the metals) in the free energy functional and in the Euler-Lagrange equation for the film polarization. This equation is solved using the variational method, and the free energy functional is reduced to the conventional free energy with a renormalized coefficient of P ². This coefficient is dependent on the properties and thickness of the film and the properties of the electrode. Therefore, the physical characteristics of the size effect can be found by merely substituting the renormalized coefficient into the usual formulas from phenomenological theory. The calculations are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental data for Pt, Ir, IrO₂, and SrRuO₃.     

Effects of iron oxide nanoparticles on polyvinyl alcohol: interfacial layer and bulk nanocomposites thin film

Iron oxide (α-phase) nanoparticles with coercivity larger than 300 Oe have been fabricated at a mild temperature by an environmentally benign method. The economic sodium chloride has been found to effectively serve as a solid spacer to disperse the iron precursor and to prevent the nanoparticles from agglomeration. Higher ratios of sodium chloride to iron nitrate result in smaller nanoparticles (19 nm for 20:1 and 14 nm for 50:1). The presence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) limits the particle growth (15 nm for 20:1 and 13 nm for 50:1) and favors nanoparticle dispersion in polymer matrices. Obvious physicochemical property changes have been observed with PVA attached to the nanoparticle surface. With PVA attached to the nanoparticle surface, the nanoparticles are found not only to increase the PVA cross-linking with an increase in melting temperature but also to enhance the thermal stability of the PVA. The nanoparticles are observed to be uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microstructure also shows an intermediate phase with a strong interaction between the nanoparticles and the polymer matrices, arising from the hydrogen bonding between the PVA and hydroxyl groups on the nanoparticle surface. The addition of nanoparticles favors the cross-linkage of the bulk PVA matrices, resulting in a higher melting temperature, and an enhanced thermal stability of the polymer matrix.     

基于ZnO薄膜的高次谐波体声波谐振器的研究

基于ZnO作压电层和蓝宝石作基底的高次谐波体声波谐振器(HBAR),采用不同电极材料和溅射方法进行优化。优化选定镀铬-金/氧化锌/铬-金/蓝宝石结构。对制备的器件进行了测试分析,结果显示,具有多模谐振特性的HBAR器件在2.87GHz Q值达到43000。根据一维Mason等效电路模型,HBAR器件还进行了理论仿真,结果表明理论结果与实测值基本一致。     

Tunable bulk acoustic wave resonators with the induced piezoelectric effect in a ferroelectric

An electromechanical model of the piezoelectric effect induced in an acoustic resonator based on a ferroelectric film under the action of a dc or weak ac voltage is developed. The basic equation is obtained by expansion of the free energy in a series with respect to the electric induction and the mechanical deformation. The system of electromechanical equations for variable components of the induction and the mechanical deformation involves all linear terms along with the component of the electrostriction nonlinear with respect to the mechanical deformation. These electromechanical equations made it possible to obtain a one-dimensional approximation for the effective parameters of the material: the piezoelectric modulus and the elastic modulus as a function of the strength of the electric field applied to the acoustic layer. Expressions for the controlled electromechanical coupling coefficient and resonance frequencies of the tunable acoustic resonator are found. It is shown that the most significant parameter responsible for the tuning is the nonlinear electros-triction coefficient M, whose magnitude and sign were evaluated from the available experimental data.