TSF-MOCVD – a novel technique for chemical vapour deposition on oxide thin films and layered heterostructures

Abstract

A new principle for supplying volatile precursors to MOCVD gas-phase chemical deposition systems is proposed, based on a two-stage evaporation of an organic solution of precursors from a soaked cotton thread, which passes sequentially through the zones of evaporation of the solvent and precursors. The technological capabilities of TSF-MOCVD (Thread-Solution Feed MOCVD) are demonstrated based on examples of obtaining thin epitaxial films of СеО2, h-LuFeO3 and thin-film heterostructures β-Fe2O3/h-LuFeO3. The results of studying the obtained films by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-rayanalysis, and high- and low-resolution transmission microscopy are presented. Using the TSF module, one can finely vary the crystallisation conditions, obtaining coatings of the required degree of crystallinity, as  evidenced by the obtained dependences of the integral width of the h-LuFeO3 reflection on the film growth rate. Based on the TEM and XRD data, it was concluded that β-Fe2O3 grows epitaxially over the h-LuFeO3 layer. Thus, using TSF-MOCVD, one can flexibly change the composition of layered heterostructures and obtain highly crystalline epitaxial films with a clear interface in a continuous deposition process