Pratiksha Agnihotri, Aman Verma, Anjali Saini, Rashmi Rani, W. Maudez, E. Wagner, G. Benvenuti, Chandan Banerjee, Mrinal Dutta, Radheshyam Rai
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The application of variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) to the characterization of thin films is very important because it facilitates the understanding of their physical and optical properties. To prepare a series of film samples consisting of TiO2:ZrO2 on a TiN/Si substrate, we employed the SYBILLA P200 equipment (manufactured by ABCD Technology) through the process of Chemical Beam Vapor Deposition (CBVD). TiO2:ZrO2 on TiN/Si thin films is a composite material that has gained significant attention in various technological applications, particularly in the field of thin film coatings on semiconductor substrates like TiN/Si. TiO2:ZrO2 thin films exhibit excellent dielectric properties and good thermal stability, making them suitable for various electronic and semiconductor applications. From FESEM and EDX analysis, it is found that with increase of Ti/Zr atomic ratio, grain size increases. Ellipsometric analysis reveals increase in film thickness and refractive index with increase in Ti/Zr atomic ratio. As the film continues to grow, changes in its microstructural phase led to a transition from a monolayer physical ellipsometry model to a bilayer physical model. This transition is due to the appearance of inhomogeneity in the TiO2:ZrO2 thin film. Dynamic fits obtained using a two‐layer physical model and a Cauchy–Lorentz optical model show three distinct phases in the film growth phase: a nucleation phase, a fusion phase, and a continuous layer phase. Although our proposed model shows satisfactory performance in most cases, the determination of the refractive index can be problematic for very thin thicknesses. The developed VASE modeling process should be able to generate TiO2:ZrO2characterization on TiN/Si substrate films using comparable physical and optical modeling considerations.
期刊介绍:
Surface and Interface Analysis is devoted to the publication of papers dealing with the development and application of techniques for the characterization of surfaces, interfaces and thin films. Papers dealing with standardization and quantification are particularly welcome, and also those which deal with the application of these techniques to industrial problems. Papers dealing with the purely theoretical aspects of the technique will also be considered. Review articles will be published; prior consultation with one of the Editors is advised in these cases. Papers must clearly be of scientific value in the field and will be submitted to two independent referees. Contributions must be in English and must not have been published elsewhere, and authors must agree not to communicate the same material for publication to any other journal. Authors are invited to submit their papers for publication to John Watts (UK only), Jose Sanz (Rest of Europe), John T. Grant (all non-European countries, except Japan) or R. Shimizu (Japan only).