scholarly journals Structural changes induced by argon ion irradiation in TiN thin films

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Popovic ◽  
Mirjana Novakovic ◽  
Zlatko Rakocevic ◽  
Natasa Bibic

In this work, the effects of 120 keV Ar+ ion implantation on the structural properties of TiN thin films were investigated. TiN layers were deposited by d.c. reactive sputtering on Si(100) wafers at room temperature or at 150?C. The thickness of TiN layers was ~240 nm. After deposition the samples were irradiated with 120 keV argon ions to the fluencies of 1?1015 and 1?1016 ions/cm2. Structural characterization was performed with Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM), grazing angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the argon ion irradiation induced the changes in the lattice constant, mean grain size, micro-strain and surface morphology of the TiN layers. The observed micro-structural changes are due to the formation of the high density damage region in the TiN thin film structure.

2017 ◽  
Vol 904 ◽  
pp. 120-124
Author(s):  
Hao Yu Chu ◽  
Yu Xiong Li ◽  
Cheng Yan Gu ◽  
Chun Ping Jiang

In this work, different thick TiN thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition on GaN substrates at 650°C. The crystal structure and morphology are characterized by X-ray Diffraction and Atomic Force Microscopy. We characterized the sample by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy at room temperature and measured the thickness of the film by a cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy. Combining the attenuation of light intensity and the thickness, the absorption coefficient of the samples can be estimated by the Beer-Lambert law. The absorption coefficients of TiN metal thin film obtained here are closed with each other. The optical properties may not change with increasing thickness.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Rui Jian ◽  
Jenh-Yih Juang

The mechanical properties and deformation behaviors of AlN thin films deposited onc-plane sapphire substrates by helicon sputtering method were determined using the Berkovich nanoindentation and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). The load-displacement curves show the “pop-ins” phenomena during nanoindentation loading, indicative of the formation of slip bands caused by the propagation of dislocations. No evidence of nanoindentation-induced phase transformation or cracking patterns was observed up to the maximum load of 80 mN, from either XTEM or atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the mechanically deformed regions. Instead, XTEM revealed that the primary deformation mechanism in AlN thin films is via propagation of dislocations on both basal and pyramidal planes. Furthermore, the hardness and Young’s modulus of AlN thin films estimated using the continuous contact stiffness measurements (CSMs) mode provided with the nanoindenter are 16.2 GPa and 243.5 GPa, respectively.


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhavi Thakurdesai ◽  
A. Mahadkar ◽  
Varsha Bhattacharyya

Ion beam irradiation is a unique non-equilibrium technique for phase formation and material modification. Localized rise in temperature and ultra fast (~1012 s) dissipations of impinging energy make it an attractive tool for nanostructure synthesize. Dense electronic excitation induced spatial and temporal confinement of high energy in a narrow dimension leads the system to a highly non-equilibrium state and the system then relaxes dynamically inducing nucleation of nanocrystals along the latent track. In the present investigation, amorphous thin films of TiO2 are irradiated by 100 MeV Ag ion beam. These irradiated thin films are characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Glancing Angle X-ray Diffraction (GAXRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. AFM and TEM studies indicate formation of circular nanoparticles of size 10±2 nm in a film irradiated at a fluence of 1×1012 ions.cm-2. Nanophase formation is also inferred from the blueshift observed in UV-VIS absorption band edge.


Author(s):  
Fulin Xiong

MeV ion implantation into III-V compound semiconductors has attracted great attention in recent years because of its high potential for 3-dimensional device fabrication technology. However, a thorough understanding of associated physical processes involved is crucial before it can be universally applied. Our study on this subject with InP using cross sectional and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (XTEM, HRTEM) reveals clearly the structural changes occurring during MeV-ion-implantation and subsequent thermal annealing. It has lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of phase transition in InP under MeV ion irradiation.Samples of n-type InP(lOO) single crystalline wafers were implanted with 5 MeV-N-ions in room temperature with doses ranging from 1014 to 1016/cm2. Post-implantation annealing was carried out in a graphite strip heater at 500 C with ambient H2 flow.Fig. 1 shows a typical XTEM view of an implanted sample at a dose of 1 x 1016/cm2. A wide implanted layer is buried at a maximum depth of 4μm with a slightly damaged top surface. The buried layer appears as a highly disordered crystalline structure when the sample was annealed, whereas it is amorphous in an as-implanted sample.


Author(s):  
J.Y. Lee

In the oxidation of metals and alloys, microstructural features at the atomic level play an important role in the nucleation and growth of the oxide, but little is known about the atomic mechanisms of high temperature oxidation. The present paper describes current progress on crystallographic aspects of aluminum oxidation. The 99.999% pure, polycrystalline aluminum was chemically polished and oxidized in 1 atm air at either 550°C or 600°C for times from 0.5 hr to 4 weeks. Cross-sectional specimens were prepared by forming a sandwich with epoxy, followed by mechanical polishing and then argon ion milling. High resolution images were recorded in a <110>oxide zone-axis orientation with a JE0L JEM 200CX microscope operated at 200 keV.


Author(s):  
H. Takaoka ◽  
M. Tomita ◽  
T. Hayashi

High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is the effective technique for characterization of detailed structure of semiconductor materials. Oxygen is one of the important impurities in semiconductors. Detailed structure of highly oxygen doped silicon has not clearly investigated yet. This report describes detailed structure of highly oxygen doped silicon observed by HRTEM. Both samples prepared by Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and ion implantation were observed to investigate effects of oxygen concentration and doping methods to the crystal structure.The observed oxygen doped samples were prepared by MBE method in oxygen environment on (111) substrates. Oxygen concentration was about 1021 atoms/cm3. Another sample was silicon of (100) orientation implanted with oxygen ions at an energy of 180 keV. Oxygen concentration of this sample was about 1020 atoms/cm3 Cross-sectional specimens of (011) orientation were prepared by argon ion thinning and were observed by TEM at an accelerating voltage of 400 kV.


Author(s):  
G. Lucadamo ◽  
K. Barmak ◽  
C. Michaelsen

The subject of reactive phase formation in multilayer thin films of varying periodicity has stimulated much research over the past few years. Recent studies have sought to understand the reactions that occur during the annealing of Ni/Al multilayers. Dark field imaging from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies in conjunction with in situ x-ray diffraction measurements, and calorimetry experiments (isothermal and constant heating rate), have yielded new insights into the sequence of phases that occur during annealing and the evolution of their microstructure.In this paper we report on reactive phase formation in sputter-deposited lNi:3Al multilayer thin films with a periodicity A (the combined thickness of an aluminum and nickel layer) from 2.5 to 320 nm. A cross-sectional TEM micrograph of an as-deposited film with a periodicity of 10 nm is shown in figure 1. This image shows diffraction contrast from the Ni grains and occasionally from the Al grains in their respective layers.


2005 ◽  
Vol 907 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Gregg ◽  
K Hattar ◽  
C H Lei ◽  
I M Robertson

AbstractRetention of the enhanced properties reported for nanograined metallic systems requires that the nanostructure be insensitive to temperature and deformation. In situ transmission electron microscopy annealing experiments were employed to investigate the structural changes associated with the formation of micron-sized grains in nanograined evaporated gold thin films. This abnormal grain growth occurs randomly throughout the film. Twinning but not dislocation slip occurs in the growing grains until the grain size is in the hundreds of nanometer range. The twins appear to hinder growth and for grain growth to continue the twins must either be annihilated or be able to grow with the grain concurrently.


2012 ◽  
Vol 488-489 ◽  
pp. 432-436
Author(s):  
Chutima Paksunchai ◽  
Somyod Denchitcharoen ◽  
Surasing Chaiyakun ◽  
Pichet Limsuwan

The (Ti,Cr)N thin films were deposited with various N2 flow rates on silicon wafers by reactive unbalanced magnetron co-sputtering without heating and biasing substrates. The effects of N2 flow rate on the structure and morphologies of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results revealed that the (Ti,Cr)N thin films formed solid solutions with the fcc structure. The crystallite sizes calculated from Scherrer formula are about 13 nm. The root-mean-square roughness (Rrms) and the thickness (Tth) of the films were slightly decreased with the increase in N2 flow rate. The cross-sectional morphology showed columnar structure corresponding to zone 2. In addition, the N atomic concentration was also increased with the increase in N2 flow rate.


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