Growth feature of layered self-standing diamond films by DC arc plasma jet CVD

Layered self-standing diamond films, two-, three- and four-layered films, were fabricated by varying the ratio of methane to hydrogen in high-power DC arc plasma jet CVD. Results of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectra showed that the layered films were constructed by the micro-crystalline grains layer/nano-crystalline grains layer. The residual stress within the films were balanced, and even diminished in the certain layer. The grain size was calculated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The layer containing nanocrystalline grains due to a plenty of secondary nucleation can weakly inherit the columnar growth feature of the overlaid layer containing micro-crystalline grains. The grain size and growth orientation of the layer containing micro-crystalline grains can be adjusted by introduction of a mid-layer containing nano-crystalline grains. Growth rate was over 10 mm/h in layered film fabrication.     

氩气退火时间对Fe(Se,Te)薄膜的性能影响研究

作为一种铁基超导薄膜,Fe(Se,Te)薄膜具有晶体结构简单、所包含的元素较少、易于合成的特点,不仅有利于超导机理研究而且有着潜在的技术应用价值。本文通过磁控溅射在温度为320 ℃的CaF₂单晶衬底上制备了Fe(Se,Te)薄膜,并在氩气氛围下进行了退火处理。研究了退火时间对Fe(Se,Te)薄膜的晶体结构、微观形貌、成分组成以及电输运特性的影响。结果表明:Fe(Se,Te)薄膜的结晶性较好,退火有助于消除薄膜样品中的FeSe相,薄膜的晶格常数c对退火不敏感,退火后薄膜晶粒尺寸变大;Fe(Se,Te)薄膜成分与靶材的名义组分存在一定的偏差,退火时间越长,Fe(Se,Te)薄膜表面的颗粒越密集;Fe(Se,Te)薄膜的电阻随温度升高而减小,呈现出半导体特性,退火3 h后电阻明显增大。     

不同退火温度对钡铁氧体薄膜磁性的影响

M型钡铁氧体(BaFe₁₂O₁₉, BaM)是一种单轴磁晶各向异性的六角晶系硬磁材料,由于其具有很强的各向异性场,因此在自偏置微波器件领域具有广阔的应用前景。本文采用常温射频磁控溅射法在(000l)取向的蓝宝石衬底上沉积了厚度约为130 nm的BaFe₁₂O₁₉非晶薄膜,然后分别在850 ℃、900 ℃、950 ℃、1 000 ℃对其空气退火处理3 h,得到BaM晶体薄膜样品。采用X射线衍射仪对薄膜样品进行物相及晶体生长取向鉴别,采用扫描探针显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对薄膜样品的粗糙度和表面形貌进行测量和观察,采用振动样品磁强计对样品进行了静态磁性能测试。实验结果表明,退火后的薄膜样品的主晶相为BaM,且具有(000l)取向择优生长,其微观组织结构都表现为C轴垂直于膜面的颗粒状结构。退火温度为900 ℃时所得样品的各项性能达到最佳,其表面粗糙度为2.8 nm,矩形比为0.84,饱和磁化强度为247 emu/cm³,矫顽力为1 528 Oe。     

Electrodeposited and selenized CIGS thin films for solar cells

Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ polycrystalline thin films were deposited adopting the potentiostatic electrochemical method on Mo/soda lime glass substrate. All the as-deposited Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ thin films were annealed in a selenium atmosphere at 550 °C for 1 h to improve the film crystalline properties. The selenized CIGS thin films were characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The results indicate Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ thin films have single chalcopyrite structure and the grain size varies from 0.8 to 2.5 μm.     

Physical properties of Ag-doped cadmium telluride thin films fabricated by closed-space sublimation technique

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin films were prepared by the closed-space sublimation (CSS) technique, using CdTe powder as evaporant onto substrates of water-white glass. In the next step, the annealed films at 450 °C for 30 min were dipped in AgNO₃–H₂O solution at room temperature. These films were again annealed at 450 °C for 1 h to obtain silver-doped samples. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrically i.e. DC electrical resistivity as well as photo resistivity by van der Pauw method at room temperature, dark conductivity, activation energy analysis as a function of temperature by two-probe method under vacuum, and spectrophotometry. The electron microprobe analyzer (EMPA) results showed an increase of Ag content composition in the samples by increasing the immersion time of films in solution. The Hall measurements indicated the increase in mobility and carrier concentrations of CdTe films by doping of Ag. A significant change in the shape and size of the CdTe grains were observed.     

Growth and electrical properties of flash evaporated AgGaTe2 thin films

Thin films have been prepared by flash evaporation technique of a stoichiometric bulk of AgGaTe₂ compound in vacuum and analysed using X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area diffraction and energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays. The effect of substrate temperature on the structural properties – grain size, film orientation, composition, and stoichiometry of the films have been studied. It was found that the polycrystalline, stoichiometric films of AgGaTe₂ can be grown in the substrate temperature range of 473K < Ts < 573K. The influence of substrate temperature (Ts) on the electrical characteristics‐ Resistivity, Hall Mobility, Carrier concentration of AgGaTe₂ thin films were studied. The electrical resistivity was found to decrease with increase in substrate temperature up to 573K and then increases. The variation of activation energy of AgGaTe₂ thin films were also investigated. The implications are discussed. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

AlN薄膜择优取向生长机理及制备工艺

不同择优取向的AlN薄膜具有不同的物理化学性质和应用,其择优取向生长机理主要包括热力学的"能量最小化"理论和动力学的"选择进化"理论.在众多的制备方法中,通过控制工艺参数可以沉积出不同择优取向的A1N薄膜,各工艺参数对其择优取向的影响取决于沉积粒子到达衬底前携带能量的大小,它们引起的各晶面生长速率的竞争,其结果表明,择优取向晶面是该沉积条件下生长速率最快的晶面.在诸多工艺参数中,靶基距、离子束轰击是控制AlN薄膜择优取向的最重要工艺参数,靶基距增大容易得到(100)晶面择优取向的AlN薄膜,而一定范围内离子束轰击能量和轰击角度的增大会促进(002)晶面择优取向生长.     

低温热处理温度对SiC衬底上CuAlO2薄膜特性的影响

为了解决双极型碳化硅(SiC)功率器件中由于p型SiC在室温下难以完全电离所导致的p+n发射结注入效率低的问题,提出将p型CuAlO₂与n型SiC形成的异质结作为发射结以提高该结的注入效率。本文利用溶胶凝胶(sol-gel)方法,在4H-SiC衬底上制备了CuAlO₂薄膜,研究了低温热处理温度对CuAlO₂薄膜晶体结构、表面形貌、光学特性的影响。结果表明:较高的热处理温度可以促进中间产物CuO的生成,进而在固相反应阶段促进CuAlO₂相的产生,最终制备的CuAlO₂薄膜主要以CuAlO₂相的(012)晶向择优取向。随着低温热处理温度的升高,薄膜的表面均匀致密,空位缺陷含量降低,结晶质量提高。当低温热处理温度为300 ℃时,CuAlO₂薄膜晶粒尺寸约为35 nm。此外,CuAlO₂薄膜在可见光范围内的透过率超过70%,且随着预处理温度升高,薄膜光学带隙略有增加。     

Low-temperature Si epitaxy on large-grained polycrystalline seed layers by electron–cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition

The epitaxial thickening of polycrystalline Si films on glass substrates is of great interest for the realization of crystalline Si thin film solar cells and other large-area thin film devices. In this paper we report on the epitaxial growth of Si at temperatures below on polycrystalline seed layers using electron–cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition. The Si seed layers were prepared by aluminum-induced crystallization. The quality of the ECRCVD-grown films strongly depends on the orientation of the underlying seed layer grains. Due to a mainly favorable orientation of the seed layers more than 73% of the substrate area were epitaxially thickened. It turned out that a (1 0 0) preferential orientation is favorable for epitaxial thickening. This, however, is not the only requirement for successful low-temperature epitaxial growth of Si.     

ITO玻璃衬底上生长的Zn0.9Mg0.1S多晶薄膜特性研究

以ZnS和Mg粉末为原料,采用真空蒸镀技术在ITO玻璃上成功地制备了宽禁带三元化合物Zn0.9Mg0.1S多晶薄膜.原子力显微镜和X射线衍射研究表明:薄膜生长形貌和结晶性能良好,为择优取向的立方闪锌矿结构,晶粒直径约20nm,薄膜的X射线衍射峰较之ZnS的衍射峰向大角度方向移动了0.46°;室温下的拉曼谱峰相对于ZnS的拉曼谱峰出现蓝移,且347.67cm-1谱峰比较强;光致发光谱显示,Zn0.9Mg0.1S薄膜在410nm处有一个较强的发光峰.良好的结晶质量和发光特性为开发多功能材料和器件提供了可能性.     

Temperature gradient induced phase transitions and morphological changes in diamond thin film

The diamond films were deposited onto a wurtzite gallium nitride (GaN) thin film substrate using hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). During the film deposition a lateral temperature gradient was imposed across the substrate by inclining the substrate. As grown films predominantly showed the hexagonal phase, when no inclination was applied to the substrate. Tilting the substrate with respect to the heating filament by 6° imposed a lateral temperature gradient across the substrate, which induced the formation of a cubic diamond phase. Diamond grains were predominantly oriented in the (100) direction. However, a further increase in the substrate tilt angle to 12°, resulted in grains oriented in the (111) direction. The growth rate and hence the morphology of diamond grains varied along the inclined substrate. The present study focuses on the measurements of dominant phase formation and crystal orientation with varying substrate inclination using orientation-imaging microscopy (OIM). This technique enables direct examination of individual diamond grains and their crystallographic orientation.     

Influence of substrate temperature on microcrystalline structure and optical properties of ZnTe thin films

ZnTe thin films were deposited onto well‐cleaned glass substrates kept at different temperatures (Ts = 303, 373 and 423 K), by vacuum evaporation method under the pressure of 10^–5 Torr. The thickness of the film was measured by quartz crystal monitor and verified by the multiple beam interferometer method. The structural characterization was made using X‐ray diffractometer with filtered CuKα radiation. The grain sizes of the microcrystallines in films increases with increase in substrate temperature. The strain (ε), grain size (D) and dislocation density (δ) was calculated and results are discussed based on substrate temperature. Optical behaviour of the film was analyzed from transmittance spectra in the visible region (400–800 nm). The optical transition in ZnTe films is direct and allowed type. The optical band gap energy shows an inverse dependence on substrate temperature and thickness. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

高掺锌/镁铌酸锂薄膜的光电性质

室温下采用射频磁控溅射(RFMS)技术在玻璃与硅基板上分别沉积了纯铌酸锂LN薄膜、高掺锌(6%,摩尔分数,下同)LN∶ZnO薄膜和高掺镁(5%)LN∶MgO薄膜,并在575 ℃条件下退火进一步提高薄膜的结晶度。通过原子力显微镜(AFM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、紫外可见吸收(UV-Vis)和椭偏仪等测试研究了三种铌酸锂薄膜的形貌、结构和光学性质。XRD分析表明掺杂铌酸锂薄膜和纯铌酸锂薄膜具有相同的生长取向,AFM、XRD、UV-Vis测试结果表明,掺杂将增大铌酸锂薄膜的晶粒尺寸,光学带隙的红移现象与晶粒尺寸相关,且掺Mg的影响大于掺Zn。此外利用霍尔效应测试仪研究了LN、LN∶ZnO和LN∶MgO薄膜的电学性质,测试结果表明三种薄膜均为n型半导体,其中LN∶MgO薄膜电导率的变化趋势不同于LN∶ZnO和LN薄膜,且发现温度在18~50 ℃范围内,随着温度的升高,LN∶MgO薄膜的电导率变化微小,而LN∶ZnO和LN薄膜的电导率逐渐增大。     

Growth and microstructural features of laser ablated LiCoO2 thin films

Thin films of LiCoO₂ were prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique and the properties were studied in relation to the deposition parameters. The films deposited from a sintered composite target (LiCoO₂+Li₂O) in an oxygen partial pressure of 100 mTorr and at a substrate temperature of 300 °C exhibited preferred c-axis (0 0 3) orientation perpendicular to the substrate surface. The AFM data demonstrated that the films are composed of uniform distribution of fine grains with an average grain size of 80 nm. The grain size increased with an increase in substrate temperature. The (0 0 3) orientation decreased with increase in (1 0 4) orientation for the films deposited at higher substrate temperatures (>500 °C) indicating that the films’ growth is parallel to the substrate surface. The composition of the experimental films was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The binding energy peaks of Co(2p_3/2) and Co(2p_1/2) are, respectively, observed at 779.3 and 794.4 eV, which can be attributed to the Co³⁺ bonding state of LiCoO₂. The electrochemical measurements were carried out on Li//LiCoO₂ cells with a lithium metal foil as anode and LiCoO₂ film as cathode of 1.5 cm² active area using a Teflon home-made cell hardware. The Li//LiCoO₂ cells were tested in the potential range 2.6-4.2 V. Specific capacity as high as 205 mC/cm² μm was measured for the film grown at 700 °C. The growth of LiCoO₂ films were studied in relation to the deposition parameters for their effective utilization as cathode materials in solid-state microbattery application.     

Effect of gallium incorporation on the physical properties of ZnO films grown by spray pyrolysis

Gallium-doped zinc oxide thin films were deposited by the spray pyrolysis technique onto Corning 7059 glass substrates at a temperature of 350°C using a precursor solution of zinc acetate in isopropyl alcohol. The films were prepared using different gallium concentrations keeping the other deposition parameters such as air and solution flow rates and solution concentration constant. The variations of the structural, electrical and optical properties with the doping concentration were investigated. X-ray diffraction data showed that the films were polycrystalline with the (0 0 2) preferred orientation. The texture coefficient and grain size were evaluated for different doping concentrations. The films with 5.0 at% gallium had a resistivity of 1.5×10⁻³ Ω cm and a transmittance of 85% with an energy band gap of 3.35 eV.     

衬底温度对氧化锌薄膜微结构及光学性能的影响

衬底温度是磁控溅射法制备氧化锌薄膜中一个非常重要的工艺指标,探索衬底温度对氧化锌薄膜微结构及光学性能的影响对制备环保型高质量氧化锌紫外屏蔽材料具有重要意义。以质量分数99.99%的氧化锌陶瓷靶为溅射源,利用射频磁控溅射技术在石英衬底上沉积了氧化锌紫外屏蔽薄膜,通过X射线衍射仪、薄膜测厚仪、紫外-可见分光光度计、荧光分光光度计进行测试和表征,研究了不同衬底温度对ZnO薄膜微结构及光学性能的影响。实验结果表明:制备所得薄膜均为六角纤锌矿结构,具有沿(002)晶面择优取向生长的特点,其晶格常数、晶粒尺寸、透过率、光学能隙、可见荧光、结晶质量等都与衬底温度密切相关,当衬底温度为250 ℃,溅射功率160 W,氩气压强0.5 Pa,氩气流速8.3 mL/min,沉积时间60 min时,所得氧化锌薄膜样品取向性最好,晶粒尺寸最大,薄膜结构致密,具有良好的光学性能和结晶质量。     

Isothermal crystallization kinetic of ZnO thin films

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering were annealed in nitrogen atmosphere at different temperatures ranging from 100 to 500 °C with a step of 100 °C; the annealing time was 6 h. In order to study the film’s crystallization kinetic, their structures were monitored by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis each hour. Variation in grain size, calculated from the XRD patterns, with annealing time and temperature, obeys the classical parabolic law of grain growth. Exponent n was found to be dependent on the annealing temperature; it ranged from 5.13 to 3.8 with increase in annealing temperature. From the obtained exponent n values we inferred that the grain growth mechanism is mainly governed by the atom jumping across the grain boundary. We have found that the grain growth is characterized by a low activation energy ranging from 22 to 24 kJ/mol.     

Effect of Thermal Annealing on Structural Properties,Morphologies and Electrical Properties of TiO2 Thin Films Grown by MOCVD

TiO₂ thin films, were deposited on Si(100) and Si(111) substrates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition at 500 °C, and have been annealed for 2 min, 30 min and 10 hours at the temperature from 600 °C to 900 °C, in oxygen and air flow, respectively. XRD and atomic force microscopy characterized the structural properties and surface morphologies of the films. As‐deposited films show anatase polycrystalline structure with a surface morphology of regular rectangled grains with distinct boundaries. Rutile phase formed for films annealed above 600 °C, and pure rutile polycrystalline films with (110) orientation can be obtained after annealing under adequate conditions. Rutile annealed films exhibit a surface morphology of equiaxed grains without distinct boundaries. The effects of substrate orientation, annealing time and atmosphere on the structure and surface morphology of films have also been studied. Capacitance‐Voltage measurements have been performed for films deposited on Si(100) before and after annealing. The dielectric properties of TiO₂ films were greatly improved by thermal annealing above 600 °C in oxygen.     

Influence of precursor concentration on structural,morphological and electrical properties of spray deposited ZnO thin films

Nanostructured ZnO thin films were coated on glass substrate by spray pyrolysis using Zinc acetate dihydrate as precursor. Effect of precursor concentration on structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of the films was investigated. The crystal structure and orientation of the ZnO thin films prepared with four different precursor solution concentrations were studied and it was observed that, the prepared films are polycrystalline in nature with hexagonal wurzite structure. The peaks are indexed to (100), (002), (101), (102) and (110) planes. Grain size and texture coefficient (TC) were calculated and the grain size found to increase with an increase in precursor concentration. Presence of Zn and O elements was confirmed with EDAX spectra. Optical absorption measurements were carried out in the wavelength region of 380 to 800 nm and the band gap decreases as precursor concentration increases. The current‐voltage characteristics were observed at room temperature and in dark. It was found that for the films deposited at four different precursor concentrations, the conductivity improves as precursor concentration increases. As trimethyl amine TMA is a good marker for food quality discrimination, sensing behavior of the films at an optimized operating temperature of 373 K, towards various concentrations of (TMA) was observed and reported. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Orientation control of LaNiO3 thin films by RF magnetron sputtering with different oxygen partial pressure

Highly (1 1 0)- and (1 0 0)-oriented LaNiO₃ (LNO) thin films were successfully grown on Si (1 0 0) substrate using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering at room temperature (RT). Effects of oxygen partial pressures on the orientation, film composition, surface morphology, and electrical properties of the films were investigated. The nearly complete (1 0 0) orientation was first achieved with oxygen partial pressure beyond 15% in the sputtering gas. The preferred (1 0 0) orientation of growing films is determined by uniform distribution of Ni³⁺ and La/Ni ratio in the films caused by oxygen during sputtering, as well as the lowest surface energy of the films in the crystalline process. LNO films with controlled orientation have low resistivity of 7.0×10⁻⁶ Ω m which is a good basis for integrating ferroelectric capacitors.