TiO2 thin films for spintronics application: a Raman study

We present the results of a systematic study performed by micro‐Raman spectroscopy on pure anatase, pure rutile and mixed anatase–rutile TiO₂ thin films, deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on quartz substrates, with different thicknesses. The crystal structures of the as‐deposited films were unambiguously determined and a good crystalline homogeneity was revealed by a systematic mapping of the samples. In the mixed‐phase films, the relative amount of the two phases was monitored by a simple analysis of the components of the multi‐Lorentzian fitting curves. For the single‐phase films, the influence of the thickness and the effect of different thermal treatments, carried out to obtain series of thin films differing only for oxygen content, are discussed. The analysis of the scattered light has provided indication about the presence of an interface layer between the substrate and the film, which can play a role in driving the interesting magnetic properties exhibited by our samples, which are of potential usefulness for spintronics application. The results obtained from other techniques are briefly reported and discussed in relation to our systematic Raman characterization. This study points out how Raman investigation can provide suggestions toward the understanding of the complex physical phenomena leading to room‐temperature ferromagnetism in TiO₂ thin films. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Sb掺杂SrTio3透明导电薄膜的光电子能谱研究

用X射线光电子能谱和同步辐射光电子能谱研究了Sb掺杂的钙钛矿型氧化物SrTi1-xSbxO3(x=0.05,0.10,0.15,0.20)薄膜的电子结构.薄膜由紫外脉冲激光淀积在SrTiO3(001)单晶衬底上.该薄膜系列在可见光波段透明,透过率均超过90%.其导电性与掺杂浓度有关,当Sb掺杂浓度x=0.05时,薄膜显示金属型导电性.X射线光电子能谱和同步辐射光电子能谱研究结果表明,Sb掺杂在母化合物SrTiO3的禁带内引入了浅杂质能级和深杂质能级.浅杂质能级上的退局域化电子离化到导带中会产生一定的传导电 关键词： 光电子能谱 光学透过率 脉冲激光沉积薄膜     

TiO2/Al2O3薄膜的原子层沉积和光学性能分析

采用原子层沉积技术在熔石英和BK7玻璃基片上镀制了TiO2/Al2O3薄膜,沉积温度分别为110℃和280℃。利用X射线粉末衍射仪对膜层微观结构进行了分析研究,并在激光损伤平台上进行了抗激光损伤阈值测量。采用Nomarski微分干涉差显微镜和原子力显微镜对激光损伤后的形貌进行了观察分析。结果表明,采用原子层沉积技术镀制的TiO2/Al2O3增透膜的厚度均匀性较好,Φ50 mm样品的膜层厚度均匀性优于99%;光谱增透效果显著,在1 064 nm处的透过率〉99.8%;在熔石英和BK7基片上,TiO2/Al2O3薄膜在110℃时的激光损伤阈值分别为（6.73±0.47）J/cm2和（6.5±0.46）J/cm2,明显高于在280℃时的损伤阈值。     

Structural properties of the titanium dioxide thin films grown by atomic layer deposition at various numbers of reaction cycles

A dependence of structural properties of TiO₂ films grown on both Si- and Ti-substrates by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at the temperature range of 250-300 °C from titanium ethoxide and water on the number of reaction cycles N was investigated using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). TiO₂ films grown on both Si- and Ti-substrates revealed amorphous structure at low values of N < 400. However, an increase of N up to values 400-3600 resulted in the growth of polycrystalline TiO₂ with structure of anatase on both types of substrates and according to XRD-measurements the sizes of crystallites rose with the increase of N. The maximum anatase crystallite size for TiO₂ grown on Ti-substrate was found to be on ∼35% lower in comparing with that for TiO₂ grown on Si-substrate. A use of titanium methoxide as a Ti precursor with the ligand size smaller than in case of titanium ethoxide allowed to observe an influence of the ligand size on both the growth per cycle and structural properties of TiO₂. The average growth per cycle of TiO₂ deposited from titanium methoxide and water (0.052 ± 0.01 nm/cycle) was essentially higher than that for TiO₂ grown from titanium ethoxide and water (0.043 ± 0.01 nm/cycle). Ligands of smaller sizes were found to promote the higher crystallinity of TiO₂ in comparison with the case of using the titanium precursor with ligands of bigger sizes.     

制备温度对MgB-2薄膜超导电性的影响

报道了用两步法制备MgB2超导薄膜.首先利用脉冲激光沉积技术制备B膜,然后在Mg蒸气环境下对B膜进行后退火处理,通过扩散反应生成MgB2超导薄膜.采用扫描电子显微镜、x射线衍射、电阻测量和磁测量技术分析了前驱物B膜的制备温度对扩散产物MgB2薄膜的表面形貌、晶体结构、超导转变温度和临界电流密度的影响.结果表明,随着B膜制备温度的降低,MgB2薄膜中晶粒粒度减小、c取向的衍射线宽化、超导转变温度升高、临界电流密度增大.300℃时制备的MgB2超导薄膜的超导起始转变温度为395K,临界电流密度为13×107A 关键词： MgB2超导薄膜 脉冲激光沉积 基片温度     

Co:BaTiO3纳米复合薄膜的制备及其结构

用脉冲激光沉积技术(PLD)在MgO(100)基底上生长了嵌埋Co纳米晶的BaTiO3复合薄膜. 分别利用x射线衍射(XRD)、原子力显微镜(AFM)以及拉曼光谱(Raman)对薄膜的微观结构、表面 形貌进行了表征. 结果表明该薄膜为c轴取向的四方晶体结构，薄膜表面均匀、致密、 具有原子尺度的光滑性，其均方根表面粗糙度(RMS)达到015nmCo以纳米晶形式嵌埋BaTi O3基体中，呈单分散性均匀分布，其粒径随激光脉冲数的增加而增大. Co：BaTiO3纳米 复合薄膜拉曼峰的强度随钴纳米晶粒径的增加明显减弱，但是峰的宽度逐渐增加. 关键词： Co：BaTiO3 纳米复合薄膜 脉冲激光沉积     

Structural and optical properties of La-doped BaSnO3 thin films grown by PLD

In this study the structural and optical properties of lanthanum-doped BaSnO₃ powder samples and thin films deposited on fused silica were investigaed using laser ablation. Under an oxygen pressure of 5×10⁻⁴ mbar, phase pure BaSnO₃ films with a lattice constant of 0.417 nm and grain size of 21 nm were prepared at 630 °C. The band gap of BaSnO3 powder sample and thin films was calculated to be 3.36 eV and 3.67 eV, respectively. There was a progressive increase in conductivity for thin films of BaSnO₃ doped with 0~7 at% of La. The highest conductivity, 9 Scm⁻¹, was obtained for 7 at% La-doped BaSnO₃. Carrier concentration, obtained from Burstein-Moss (B-M) shift, nearly matches the measured values except for 3 at% and 10 at% La-doped BaSnO₃ thin films.     

Deposition of zinc oxide thin films by reactive pulsed laser ablation

Thin films of zinc oxide have been deposited by reactive pulsed laser ablation of Zn and ZnO targets in presence of a radio frequency (RF) generated oxygen plasma. The gaseous species have been deposited at several substrate temperatures, using the on-axis configuration, on Si (1 0 0). Thin films have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. A comparison among conventional PLD and reactive RF plasma-assisted PLD has been performed.     

Photocatalytic activity of nanostructured TiO2 films produced by supersonic cluster beam deposition

The photocatalytic activity of thin, nanostructured films of titanium dioxide, synthesized by supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD) from the gas phase, has been investigated employing the photodegradation of salicylic acid as test reaction. Because of the low deposition energy, the so-deposited highly porous TiO₂ films are composed of nanoparticles maintaining their original properties in the film, which can be fully controlled by tuning the deposition and post-deposition treatment conditions. A systematic investigation on the evolution of light absorption properties and photoactivity of the films in relation to their morphology, determined by AFM analysis, and phase composition, determined by Raman spectroscopy, has been performed. The absorption and photocatalytic activity of the nanostructured films in the visible region could be enhanced either through post-deposition annealing treatment in ammonia containing atmosphere or employing mild oxidation conditions, followed by annealing in N₂ at 600 °C.     

脉冲激光气相沉积法制备钴纳米薄膜实验研究

采用脉冲激光沉积技术制备了钴纳米薄膜,分析和讨论了不同背景气压和脉冲频率对钴纳米薄膜表面形貌的影响及纳米微粒的形成机理。实验结果表明：在低背景气压下,等离子体羽辉自身粒子之间的碰撞占主导作用,容易形成液滴;在较高背景气压下,等离子体羽辉边缘粒子和背景气体粒子之间的碰撞占主导作用,容易形成小岛并凝聚成微颗粒;在4Hz的脉冲重复频率和5Pa背景气压下生长出单分散性良好的钴纳米颗粒。     

纳米TiO_2薄膜的低温等离子体制备技术

以四氯化钛为源物质,氩气为载气,氧气为反应气体,利用低温等离子体增强化学气相沉积在硅基表面制备出了TiO2薄膜。使用场发射扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射仪等检测分析表征TiO2薄膜的性能与性质,并探讨了工艺条件如基片材料、沉积时间和基片温度对薄膜性能的影响。结果表明:制备的薄膜表面光滑均匀,结构致密,最小晶粒尺寸约15 nm;薄膜的晶型主要依赖于沉积温度,低于300℃沉积的薄膜是无定形的,300℃之上沉积的薄膜是锐钛矿结构。     

钽掺杂二氧化钛薄膜的光电性能研究

采用脉冲激光沉积法 (PLD), 以石英玻璃为衬底制备了钽掺杂TiO₂薄膜并研究了薄膜样品的光电性质. 沉积氧气分气压从0.3 Pa变化到0.7 Pa时薄膜样品的帯隙变化范围是3.26 eV到3.49 eV. 通过测量电阻率随温度的变化关系确定了薄膜内部的主要导电机理. 在150 K到210 K温度范围内, 热激发导电机理是主要的导电机理; 而在10 K到150 K范围内; 电导率随温度的变化复合Mott的多级变程跳跃模型 (VRH); 在210 K到300 K范围内, 电阻率和exp(b/T)^1/2呈正比关系. 关键词： 2')" href="#">Ta掺杂TiO₂ 脉冲激光沉积法 薄膜 导电机理     

Raman micro‐spectroscopy for quantitative thickness measurement of nanometer thin polymer films

The sensitivity of far‐field Raman micro‐spectroscopy was investigated to determine quantitatively the actual thickness of organic thin films. It is shown that the thickness of organic films can be quantitatively determined down to 3 nm with an error margin of 20% and down to 1.5 nm with an error margin of 100%. Raman imaging of thin‐film surfaces with a far‐field optical microscope establishes the distribution of a polymer with a lateral resolution of ~400 nm and the homogeneity of the film. Raman images are presented for spin‐coated thin films of polysulfone (PSU) with average thicknesses between 3 and 50 nm. In films with an average thickness of 43 nm, the variation in thickness was around 5% for PSU. In films with an average thickness of 3 nm for PSU, the detected thickness variation was 100%. Raman imaging was performed in minutes for a surface area of 900 µm². The results illustrate the ability of far‐field Raman microscopy as a sensitive method to quantitatively determine the thickness of thin films down to the nanometer range. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural characterization of AlN films synthesized by pulsed laser deposition

We obtained AlN thin films by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) from a polycrystalline AlN target using a pulsed KrF* excimer laser source (248 nm, 25 ns, intensity of ∼4 × 10⁸ W/cm², repetition rate 3 Hz, 10 J/cm² laser fluence). The target-Si substrate distance was 5 cm. Films were grown either in vacuum (10⁻⁴ Pa residual pressure) or in nitrogen at a dynamic pressure of 0.1 and 10 Pa, using a total of 20,000 subsequent pulses. The films structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectral ellipsometry (SE). Our TEM and XRD studies showed a strong dependence of the film structure on the nitrogen content in the ambient gas. The films deposited in vacuum exhibited a high quality polycrystalline structure with a hexagonal phase. The crystallite growth proceeds along the c-axis, perpendicular to the substrate surface, resulting in a columnar and strongly textured structure. The films grown at low nitrogen pressure (0.1 Pa) were amorphous as seen by TEM and XRD, but SE data analysis revealed ∼1.7 vol.% crystallites embedded in the amorphous AlN matrix. Increasing the nitrogen pressure to 10 Pa promotes the formation of cubic (≤10 nm) crystallites as seen by TEM but their density was still low to be detected by XRD. SE data analysis confirmed the results obtained from the TEM and XRD observations.     

Platinum role in hydrophilicity enhancement of Cr-doped TiO2 thin films

In this paper, we have investigated the hydrophilic properties of the titania films doped with increasing chromium percentages (from 2.1 at.% till 4.0 at.%). Cr-doping induces an increase in the rutile weight %, a more compact structure, and a significant red shift of the TiO₂ absorption edge, the last property being very important in the self cleaning applications. For the chosen Cr concentrations, the films did not show promising hydrophilic properties. To improve them, we have applied a novel surface modification method, reported in literature mainly for powders, namely, surface metallisation. We have observed that, by depositing Pt islands on the film with the highest Cr content, its hydrophilic properties improve for a certain metal coverage area. The explanation was based on FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, performed on the UV irradiated and non-irradiated films, which gives information on the relationship between hydrophilicity and the amount of the adsorbed hydroxyl groups.     

Semipolar (11\bar 2\bar 2) ZnO thin films grown on LaAlO3‐buffered LSAT (112) single crystals by pulsed laser deposition

Semipolar (11\bar 2 \bar 2) ZnO was successfully grown on (112) LaAlO₃/(LaAlO₃)_0.29(Sr₂AlTaO₆)_0.35 substrate by pulsed laser deposition. The epitaxial relationship is [11\bar 23]_{\rm ZnO} // [11\bar 1]_{\rm LAO/LSAT} with the polar axis of [000\bar 1]_{\rm ZnO} pointing to the surface. For ZnO films with thickness of 1.6 μm, the threading dislocation density is ～1 × 10⁹ cm^–2, and the density of basal stacking faults is below 1 × 10⁴ cm^–1. The (11\bar 2 \bar 2) ZnO exhibits strong D⁰X emissions with a FWHM of 9 meV and very few green–yellow emissions in the low‐temperature (10 K) and room‐temperature photoluminescence spectra, respectively.

     

原子层沉积HfO2薄膜的激光损伤特性分析

以目前激光惯性约束聚变中应用最广泛的高折射率材料二氧化铪(HfO2)为研究对象,在熔石英基底上分别采用TEMAH和HfCl4前驱体制备了HfO2薄膜,沉积温度分别为100,200和300 ℃。采用椭偏仪和激光量热计对薄膜的光学性能进行了测量分析,采用X射线衍射仪(XRD)对薄膜的微结构进行了测量。最后在小口径激光阈值测量平台上按照1-on-1测量模式对薄膜的损伤阈值进行了测试,并采用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对损伤形貌进行了分析。研究表明,用同一种前驱体源时,随着沉积温度升高,薄膜折射率增加,吸收增多,损伤阈值降低。在相同温度下,采用有机源制备的薄膜更容易在薄膜内部形成有机残留,导致薄膜吸收增加,损伤阈值降低。采用HfCl4作为前驱体源在100℃制备氧化铪薄膜时,损伤阈值能够达到31.8 J/cm2 (1064 nm,3 ns)。     

密封容器中后处理制备Tl2Ba2CaCu2Oy高温超导薄膜及其性能研究

以铝酸镧（001）单晶为基片，采用两步法制备Tl2Ba2CaCu2Oy（Tl 2212）高 温超导薄膜.首先，利用脉冲激光沉积（PLD）工艺沉积Ba2CaCu2Ox非晶前驱体薄膜；然后，前驱体薄膜在高温（720—850℃）下密封钢容器里铊化结晶形成Tl 2212薄膜.XRD结果表明Tl2212 薄膜是沿c轴方向生长的，其相组成为Tl 2212，摇摆曲线（0012）的半高宽为0.72° ，SEM图像显示其表面光滑平整，其零电阻温度为106.2K. 关键词： Tl 2212超导薄膜 脉冲激光沉积     

Hydrolysis-condensation reactions of titanium alkoxides in thin films: A study of the steric hindrance effect by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

An original approach based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is proposed to study the influence of the surrounding humidity on the hydrolysis-condensation reactions of five titanium alkoxides in thin films. More precisely, the influence of the nature of the ligands (propoxide, butoxide, isopropoxide, phenoxide, and 9H-carbazole-9-yl-ethyl-oxy) on the reaction rate was evidenced. The reaction advancement was evaluated by comparing XPS chemical compositions to theoretical compositions calculated for all the possible rates. XPS chemical environment information allowed validating the reliability of this approach through the evaluation of the condensation state. In both approaches, the influence of the steric hindrance on the reactivity of titanium alkoxides was highlighted to be similar to what has been previously observed in solution. Theses results corroborate the validity of our XPS approach to determine titanium alkoxide hydrolysis-condensation reactions in the specific application of thin films.