Pub Date : 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140865
Elijah M. Davis , Paul Kotula , Calvin Parkin , Carlos Chacon , Edwin Chiu , Aashique Rezwan , Tesia D. Janicki , J. Matthew D. Lane , Hojun Lim , Christopher Bishop , Khalid Hattar
Amorphous silicon nitride (a‑SiNX) is widely used in microelectronics and MEMS; however, the long‑term structural stability under elevated temperatures and repeated thermal cycling remains an active field of study. This study employs in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the crystallization mechanisms and kinetics of amorphous silicon nitride thin films. Real-time observation during localized laser-induced heating enables direct visualization of devitrification processes and phase evolution with nanometer-scale resolution. In situ TEM observations show that localized material defects can lower the stability of the amorphous phase and promote crystallization. Notably, the magnitude and distribution of thermal stresses appear to strongly influence crystallization dynamics: intense, localized heating leads to rapid nucleation and near-instantaneous growth, whereas broader, lower-intensity heating induces a slower, two-stage crystallization process. These results are consistent with a strong role of thermal stress in modulating crystallization behavior and offer insights into the thermal reliability of a-SiNX. Such insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the thermal stability and inform the design of robust thin-film components for high-performance microdevices.
{"title":"In situ TEM crystallization of free-standing amorphous silicon nitride (a-SiNX)","authors":"Elijah M. Davis , Paul Kotula , Calvin Parkin , Carlos Chacon , Edwin Chiu , Aashique Rezwan , Tesia D. Janicki , J. Matthew D. Lane , Hojun Lim , Christopher Bishop , Khalid Hattar","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amorphous silicon nitride (a‑SiN<sub>X</sub>) is widely used in microelectronics and MEMS; however, the long‑term structural stability under elevated temperatures and repeated thermal cycling remains an active field of study. This study employs <em>in situ</em> transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the crystallization mechanisms and kinetics of amorphous silicon nitride thin films. Real-time observation during localized laser-induced heating enables direct visualization of devitrification processes and phase evolution with nanometer-scale resolution. <em>In situ</em> TEM observations show that localized material defects can lower the stability of the amorphous phase and promote crystallization. Notably, the magnitude and distribution of thermal stresses appear to strongly influence crystallization dynamics: intense, localized heating leads to rapid nucleation and near-instantaneous growth, whereas broader, lower-intensity heating induces a slower, two-stage crystallization process. These results are consistent with a strong role of thermal stress in modulating crystallization behavior and offer insights into the thermal reliability of a-SiN<sub>X</sub>. Such insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the thermal stability and inform the design of robust thin-film components for high-performance microdevices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"835 ","pages":"Article 140865"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140873
Jun-Cai Zhang , Hu Li , Jie Huang , Jin-Rui Cai , Zhi-Ping Huang , Li-Mei Lin , Chuan-Dong Zuo , Xin Jin , Gui-Lin Chen
Sb2S3 has attracted much attention due to its high absorption coefficient, abundant elemental reserves and stable chemical properties. However, key issues such as interface recombination and poor energy level matching have restricted the improvement of device performance. This study investigated the effects of three electron transport layers (ETLs), CdS, TiO2 and SnO2, on the hydrothermal quasi-epitaxial growth of Sb2S3. CdS could induce the formation of a continuous and dense Sb2S3 film through S-Sb chemical bridge bonds, while TiO2 and SnO2, due to their surface inertness, led to island-like growth of Sb2S3, accompanied by interface holes and defects. Device test results indicated that the device with CdS as the ETL had the best performance: power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.11 %, the lowest saturation current density (J0), and effective suppression of interface recombination. Devices with TiO2 and SnO2 as ETLs exhibited lower open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current density (Jsc), and poor device performance (2.82 % and 1.09 %) due to severe interface recombination. SCAPS-1D simulation further confirmed that CdS had significant advantages in energy level matching and interface defect control, making it the most suitable ETL among the three for the quasi-epitaxial growth of Sb2S3, providing a key reference for the development of high-efficiency Sb2S3 solar cells.
{"title":"The influence of different electron transport layers on the hydrothermal Sb2S3 quasi-epitaxial growth","authors":"Jun-Cai Zhang , Hu Li , Jie Huang , Jin-Rui Cai , Zhi-Ping Huang , Li-Mei Lin , Chuan-Dong Zuo , Xin Jin , Gui-Lin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140873","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140873","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> has attracted much attention due to its high absorption coefficient, abundant elemental reserves and stable chemical properties. However, key issues such as interface recombination and poor energy level matching have restricted the improvement of device performance. This study investigated the effects of three electron transport layers (ETLs), CdS, TiO<sub>2</sub> and SnO<sub>2</sub>, on the hydrothermal quasi-epitaxial growth of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>. CdS could induce the formation of a continuous and dense Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> film through S-Sb chemical bridge bonds, while TiO<sub>2</sub> and SnO<sub>2</sub>, due to their surface inertness, led to island-like growth of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, accompanied by interface holes and defects. Device test results indicated that the device with CdS as the ETL had the best performance: power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.11 %, the lowest saturation current density (<em>J</em><sub>0</sub>), and effective suppression of interface recombination. Devices with TiO<sub>2</sub> and SnO<sub>2</sub> as ETLs exhibited lower open-circuit voltage (<em>V</em><sub>oc</sub>) and short-circuit current density (<em>J</em><sub>sc</sub>), and poor device performance (2.82 % and 1.09 %) due to severe interface recombination. SCAPS-1D simulation further confirmed that CdS had significant advantages in energy level matching and interface defect control, making it the most suitable ETL among the three for the quasi-epitaxial growth of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, providing a key reference for the development of high-efficiency Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> solar cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"835 ","pages":"Article 140873"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140868
S. Vedavarshni , P. Pranav Pradeep , Srinivas G․ , Praveen Kumar , Siju John , Harish C. Barshilia
A multilayer concept has been used to coat Inconel-718 in the presence of Ar+O2 atmosphere. The coating structure of metal oxide/metal/metal oxide was deposited on stainless steel SS304 substrate with the bottom most oxide layer as non-stoichiometric and the top oxide layer as stoichiometric in nature. This led to the solar absorptance of 0.887 and emissivity of 0.19. The absorption of this multilayer stack was increased by depositing an additional layer of SiO2 which improves the absorptance in the range of 0.940–0.951 without affecting the emittance (0.17 – 0.19). Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis was carried out for studying the morphological properties of the coating. The reflectance properties of the coating were analyzed using UV–Vis-NIR spectroscopy and the X-ray diffraction analysis was used for the structural properties. The findings of these studies highlight Inconel's suitability as a solar selective absorber coating. Contrary to high temperature stability of bulk Inconel, thermal stability investigations of the coating reveal its stability only up to 300 °C in air for long durations. A detailed metallographic analysis conducted on both the bulk and the metal layer, to compare the intermetallic phases present, revealed the absence of the intermetallic phases in the metallic layer. This absence indeed caused the deterioration in thermal stability of the absorber layer. Further, energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that, unlike the bulk material, the sputtered Inconel layer exhibited absence of Nb composition. This absence of Nb is significant, as it contributes to the formation of intermetallic phases, thereby, influencing the observed differences in thermal behavior.
{"title":"On the compositional and thermal stability of sputter deposited Inconel based multilayer solar absorber coating","authors":"S. Vedavarshni , P. Pranav Pradeep , Srinivas G․ , Praveen Kumar , Siju John , Harish C. Barshilia","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A multilayer concept has been used to coat Inconel-718 in the presence of Ar+O<sub>2</sub> atmosphere. The coating structure of metal oxide/metal/metal oxide was deposited on stainless steel SS304 substrate with the bottom most oxide layer as non-stoichiometric and the top oxide layer as stoichiometric in nature. This led to the solar absorptance of 0.887 and emissivity of 0.19. The absorption of this multilayer stack was increased by depositing an additional layer of SiO<sub>2</sub> which improves the absorptance in the range of 0.940–0.951 without affecting the emittance (0.17 – 0.19). Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis was carried out for studying the morphological properties of the coating. The reflectance properties of the coating were analyzed using UV–Vis-NIR spectroscopy and the X-ray diffraction analysis was used for the structural properties. The findings of these studies highlight Inconel's suitability as a solar selective absorber coating. Contrary to high temperature stability of bulk Inconel, thermal stability investigations of the coating reveal its stability only up to 300 °C in air for long durations. A detailed metallographic analysis conducted on both the bulk and the metal layer, to compare the intermetallic phases present, revealed the absence of the intermetallic phases in the metallic layer. This absence indeed caused the deterioration in thermal stability of the absorber layer. Further, energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that, unlike the bulk material, the sputtered Inconel layer exhibited absence of Nb composition. This absence of Nb is significant, as it contributes to the formation of intermetallic phases, thereby, influencing the observed differences in thermal behavior.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"835 ","pages":"Article 140868"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140872
S.Y. Huang, C.K. Chen, J.C. Huang
This study employs magnetron sputtering to fabricate TiZrAg alloy thin films containing 6 at% and 12 at% silver, with Ti-Zr thin films without silver serving as a control. The aim is to investigate the influence of varying silver content on the antibacterial performance and biocorrosion resistance of the coatings. Experimental results indicate that an increase in silver content correlates with a significant enhancement in the antibacterial efficacy of the Ti-Zr-Ag coatings. The film comprising 6 at% silver demonstrates notable antibacterial effects, while the film with 12 at% silver further augments these properties, confirming the positive impact of higher silver concentrations on antibacterial activity. The improved antimicrobial efficacy is attributed to enhanced Ag+ release, reduced film grain size from 114 to 42 nm, decreased surface roughness from 5.7 to 2.8 nm, and increased water contact angle from 69.2 to 87.4°. The coatings also exhibit excellent biocorrosion resistance and long-term stability in chloride-containing saline sterilizing environments. Overall, these Ti-Zr-Ag coatings show strong potential for the surface functionalization of medical devices.
{"title":"Influence of silver content on the antibacterial properties of TiZrAg thin films","authors":"S.Y. Huang, C.K. Chen, J.C. Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140872","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140872","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study employs magnetron sputtering to fabricate TiZrAg alloy thin films containing 6 at% and 12 at% silver, with Ti-Zr thin films without silver serving as a control. The aim is to investigate the influence of varying silver content on the antibacterial performance and biocorrosion resistance of the coatings. Experimental results indicate that an increase in silver content correlates with a significant enhancement in the antibacterial efficacy of the Ti-Zr-Ag coatings. The film comprising 6 at% silver demonstrates notable antibacterial effects, while the film with 12 at% silver further augments these properties, confirming the positive impact of higher silver concentrations on antibacterial activity. The improved antimicrobial efficacy is attributed to enhanced Ag<sup>+</sup> release, reduced film grain size from 114 to 42 nm, decreased surface roughness from 5.7 to 2.8 nm, and increased water contact angle from 69.2 to 87.4°. The coatings also exhibit excellent biocorrosion resistance and long-term stability in chloride-containing saline sterilizing environments. Overall, these Ti-Zr-Ag coatings show strong potential for the surface functionalization of medical devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"835 ","pages":"Article 140872"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nanocomposite films were obtained by simultaneous sputtering of the combined Cu/Si target in the O2/Ar atmosphere by ion-plasma sputtering. As a result of the investigation of the structure of the films by X-ray diffraction, crystalline inclusions of Cu, Cu2O were detected іn the as-deposited film and Cu, Cu2O, CuO in the one annealed at temperature T = 400°C. The main mechanisms of electron transport through nanocomposite SiOx(Si)&CuyO(Cu) films containing Cu nanoparticles and amorphous Si inclusions have been established. In the low voltage range, annealing of nanocomposite SiOx(Si)&CuyO(Cu) films leads to a redistribution of the density of electronic states and the concentration of the traps near the Fermi level, which changes the superposition of ohmic conductivity with the Mott, Efros-Shklovskii, Arrhenius mechanisms. In the region of low temperatures and medium voltages the Poole-Frenkel mechanism is realized for both samples. But at the higher measurement temperatures 170 K < T < 350 K the space-charge-limited current mechanism with the exponential distribution of traps in the band gap is revealed for the initial and annealed films. In the range of low temperatures and high voltages trap-assisted tunneling is observed for the initial sample. The dielectric-metal transition was detected in the case of initial films in the high voltage range. The effect of temperature annealing of nanocomposite SiOx(Si)&CuyO(Cu) films on their electrical conductivity is the consequence of their structural transformation, which leads to the change in the concentration and energy position of electron traps in the band gap, which participate in conductivity.
采用离子等离子溅射的方法,在O2/Ar气氛中溅射Cu/Si复合靶,获得了纳米复合膜。通过x射线衍射对膜的结构进行了研究,在沉积膜中发现了Cu, Cu2O的结晶夹杂物,在T = 400℃退火膜中发现了Cu, Cu2O, CuO的结晶夹杂物。建立了含Cu纳米粒子和非晶Si包体的SiOx(Si)& CuyO(Cu)纳米复合薄膜中电子传递的主要机制。在低电压范围内,纳米复合材料SiOx(Si)& CuyO(Cu)薄膜的退火导致了电子态密度和陷阱浓度在费米能级附近的重新分布,从而改变了欧姆电导率与Mott、Efros-Shklovskii、Arrhenius机制的叠加。在低温中压区域,两种样品均实现了普尔-弗伦克尔机制。但在较高的测量温度(170 K < T < 350 K)下,初始膜和退火膜的带隙中陷阱呈指数分布,显示出空间电荷限制电流机制。在低温和高压范围内,观察到初始样品的陷阱辅助隧穿现象。在高电压范围内的初始膜中检测到介电-金属转变。纳米复合材料SiOx(Si)& CuyO(Cu)薄膜的温度退火对其电导率的影响是其结构转变的结果,这导致带隙中参与电导率的电子陷阱的浓度和能量位置发生变化。
{"title":"Conductivity mechanisms of the nanocomposite SiOx(Si)&CuyO(Cu) films","authors":"Oleh Bratus , Antonina Kykot , Anton Semeniuk , Slawomir Prucnal , Pavels Onufrijevs , Jevgenijs Kaupuzs , Svitlana Bugaychuk , Tetiana Sydorenko , Volodymyr Ilchenko , Volodymyr Marin , Igor Sokolovskyi , Tomash Sabov , Anatoliy Evtukh","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140874","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140874","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nanocomposite films were obtained by simultaneous sputtering of the combined Cu/Si target in the O<sub>2</sub>/Ar atmosphere by ion-plasma sputtering. As a result of the investigation of the structure of the films by X-ray diffraction, crystalline inclusions of Cu, Cu<sub>2</sub>O were detected іn the as-deposited film and Cu, Cu<sub>2</sub>O, CuO in the one annealed at temperature <em>T</em> = 400°C. The main mechanisms of electron transport through nanocomposite SiO<sub>x</sub>(Si)&Cu<sub>y</sub>O(Cu) films containing Cu nanoparticles and amorphous Si inclusions have been established. In the low voltage range, annealing of nanocomposite SiO<sub>x</sub>(Si)&Cu<sub>y</sub>O(Cu) films leads to a redistribution of the density of electronic states and the concentration of the traps near the Fermi level, which changes the superposition of ohmic conductivity with the Mott, Efros-Shklovskii, Arrhenius mechanisms. In the region of low temperatures and medium voltages the Poole-Frenkel mechanism is realized for both samples. But at the higher measurement temperatures 170 K < <em>T</em> < 350 K the space-charge-limited current mechanism with the exponential distribution of traps in the band gap is revealed for the initial and annealed films. In the range of low temperatures and high voltages trap-assisted tunneling is observed for the initial sample. The dielectric-metal transition was detected in the case of initial films in the high voltage range. The effect of temperature annealing of nanocomposite SiO<sub>x</sub>(Si)&Cu<sub>y</sub>O(Cu) films on their electrical conductivity is the consequence of their structural transformation, which leads to the change in the concentration and energy position of electron traps in the band gap, which participate in conductivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"836 ","pages":"Article 140874"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146049150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140869
Ghaithaa Hamoud , Alexey Samus , Alexey Matsynin , Sergey Komogortsev , Vyacheslav Zhandun , Igor Prosvirin , Ksenia Astankova , Ivan Azarov , Pavel Geydt , Ilya Milekhin , Vladimir Volodin
A simple method for producing GeOx thin films by thermal evaporation of GeO2, GeO and GeOx targets is proposed. The method does not require high vacuum and electron (or ion) beams or plasma discharge for target evaporation. The atomic structure, optical properties and thicknesses of the obtained GeOx films grown on silicon and glass substrates were studied using a set of methods: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, transmission and reflection spectroscopies, and spectral ellipsometry. Optical bandgaps (absorption edges) were determined for films grown from different targets.
{"title":"Short-range order and optical properties of thin GeOx films obtained by thermal evaporation of GeO and GeO2","authors":"Ghaithaa Hamoud , Alexey Samus , Alexey Matsynin , Sergey Komogortsev , Vyacheslav Zhandun , Igor Prosvirin , Ksenia Astankova , Ivan Azarov , Pavel Geydt , Ilya Milekhin , Vladimir Volodin","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140869","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140869","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A simple method for producing GeO<em><sub>x</sub></em> thin films by thermal evaporation of GeO<em><sub>2</sub></em>, GeO and GeO<em><sub>x</sub></em> targets is proposed. The method does not require high vacuum and electron (or ion) beams or plasma discharge for target evaporation. The atomic structure, optical properties and thicknesses of the obtained GeO<em><sub>x</sub></em> films grown on silicon and glass substrates were studied using a set of methods: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, transmission and reflection spectroscopies, and spectral ellipsometry. Optical bandgaps (absorption edges) were determined for films grown from different targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"836 ","pages":"Article 140869"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nanostructured cobalt lanthanum (Co80La20) thin films with thicknesses of 10–50 nm were deposited on glass and silicon (Si)(100) substrates by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering and subsequently annealed at 100, 200, and 300 °C. Structural analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed improved crystallinity, grain growth, and increased surface roughness with annealing. Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) demonstrated a transition from fragmented to well-aligned stripe-like magnetic domains, associated with enhanced in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Magnetic characterization confirmed soft magnetic behavior, showing reduced coercivity (Hc) and increased remanence magnetization (Mr) after annealing. Mechanical measurements indicated significant increases in hardness and Young’s modulus, attributed to grain boundary strengthening and defect reduction. Optical transmittance decreased with increasing film thickness (tf) and roughness due to enhanced scattering, while electrical conductivity improved as a result of increased carrier mobility and reduced resistivity, despite a minor decrease in carrier concentration after annealing. This work highlights the synergistic effect of annealing temperature (TA) and substrate crystallinity on tuning the structural, magnetic, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties of Co80La20 thin films. The findings demonstrate their promising potential for multifunctional applications including flexible spintronic devices, magnetic sensors, and transparent conductive films.
{"title":"Tailoring multifunctional properties of Co80La20 thin films via annealing and substrate engineering for advanced spintronic and optoelectronic applications","authors":"Shih-Hung Lin , Yung-Huang Chang , Yuan-Tsung Chen , Yu-Chieh Liao , Yun-Sheng Zheng , Huang-Wei Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nanostructured cobalt lanthanum (Co<sub>80</sub>La<sub>20</sub>) thin films with thicknesses of 10–50 nm were deposited on glass and silicon (Si)(100) substrates by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering and subsequently annealed at 100, 200, and 300 °C. Structural analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed improved crystallinity, grain growth, and increased surface roughness with annealing. Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) demonstrated a transition from fragmented to well-aligned stripe-like magnetic domains, associated with enhanced in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Magnetic characterization confirmed soft magnetic behavior, showing reduced coercivity (Hc) and increased remanence magnetization (Mr) after annealing. Mechanical measurements indicated significant increases in hardness and Young’s modulus, attributed to grain boundary strengthening and defect reduction. Optical transmittance decreased with increasing film thickness (t<sub>f</sub>) and roughness due to enhanced scattering, while electrical conductivity improved as a result of increased carrier mobility and reduced resistivity, despite a minor decrease in carrier concentration after annealing. This work highlights the synergistic effect of annealing temperature (T<sub>A</sub>) and substrate crystallinity on tuning the structural, magnetic, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties of Co<sub>80</sub>La<sub>20</sub> thin films. The findings demonstrate their promising potential for multifunctional applications including flexible spintronic devices, magnetic sensors, and transparent conductive films.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"836 ","pages":"Article 140866"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140870
Sergey I. Pozin, Oxana L. Gribkova, Ekaterina I. Rodina, Dmitriy A. Lypenko, Artem V. Dmitriev, Alexander A. Nekrasov
The paper describes results of comparative testing spray-coated layers of water-dispersible polyaniline (PANI) complexes with polyacids of different chemical structure as hole-injection layers (HILs) in an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) based on a poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) copolymer (Super Yellow) as an emissive layer. OLEDs using HILs made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) complex with polystyrene sulfonate prepared by spin and spray coating were used as references. OLEDs using HILs based on PANI complexes with poly(4,4′-(2,2′-disulfonic acid)-diphenylene-tere-phthalamide) (t-PASA) and poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAMPSA) demonstrated the highest current efficiencies of 6–7 cd/A, that is about 20% higher than this value in the best reference sample. The results were discussed in terms of crucial influence of the HIL morphology (analyzed in two scales) on the OLEDs' efficiency. Morphology of the HILs made of PANI:t-PASA and PANI:PAMPSA complexes were found to be most favorable in the following scales: few microns scale – moderately rough (but not completely smooth) intrinsic film texture derived from intermolecular packing; tens of microns scale – weak manifestation of irregularities induced by the spray coating method.
{"title":"Spray-coated films of water-dispersible polyaniline complexes as hole-injection layers of organic light-emitting diodes: film morphology aspects","authors":"Sergey I. Pozin, Oxana L. Gribkova, Ekaterina I. Rodina, Dmitriy A. Lypenko, Artem V. Dmitriev, Alexander A. Nekrasov","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140870","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140870","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The paper describes results of comparative testing spray-coated layers of water-dispersible polyaniline (PANI) complexes with polyacids of different chemical structure as hole-injection layers (HILs) in an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) based on a poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) copolymer (Super Yellow) as an emissive layer. OLEDs using HILs made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) complex with polystyrene sulfonate prepared by spin and spray coating were used as references. OLEDs using HILs based on PANI complexes with poly(4,4′-(2,2′-disulfonic acid)-diphenylene-tere-phthalamide) (t-PASA) and poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAMPSA) demonstrated the highest current efficiencies of 6–7 cd/A, that is about 20% higher than this value in the best reference sample. The results were discussed in terms of crucial influence of the HIL morphology (analyzed in two scales) on the OLEDs' efficiency. Morphology of the HILs made of PANI:t-PASA and PANI:PAMPSA complexes were found to be most favorable in the following scales: few microns scale – moderately rough (but not completely smooth) intrinsic film texture derived from intermolecular packing; tens of microns scale – weak manifestation of irregularities induced by the spray coating method.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"835 ","pages":"Article 140870"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tris(trimethylsilyl)amine was employed as a single-source precursor for plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of dielectric silicon carbonitride films, which act as copper diffusion barriers, at low-to-moderate temperatures. The influence of key process parameters—including precursor partial pressure, plasma power, and deposition temperature—on the deposition rate, chemical bonding structure, composition, and film properties was investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Plasma chemistry was studied by in-situ optical emission spectroscopy. The refractive index of the films ranged from 1.53 to 1.76, while their permittivity (k-value) varied from 2.7 to 4.5. Post-deposition thermal annealing reduced the permittivity to a value as low as 2.5. The Cu diffusion barrier properties were characterized by analyzing the interfaces of a Si/SiOC:H/SiCN:H/Cu stack annealed at 400 °C using transmission electron microscopy.
{"title":"Trisylilamine derivative for plasma-assisted fabrication of SiCN:H copper diffusion barrier with reduced value of permittivity","authors":"Evgeniya Ermakova , Vladimir Shayapov , Andrey Saraev , Eugene Maximovsky , Viktor Kirienko , Veronica Sulyaeva , Evgeny Gerasimov , Marina Kosinova","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140871","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tris(trimethylsilyl)amine was employed as a single-source precursor for plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of dielectric silicon carbonitride films, which act as copper diffusion barriers, at low-to-moderate temperatures. The influence of key process parameters—including precursor partial pressure, plasma power, and deposition temperature—on the deposition rate, chemical bonding structure, composition, and film properties was investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Plasma chemistry was studied by in-situ optical emission spectroscopy. The refractive index of the films ranged from 1.53 to 1.76, while their permittivity (k-value) varied from 2.7 to 4.5. Post-deposition thermal annealing reduced the permittivity to a value as low as 2.5. The Cu diffusion barrier properties were characterized by analyzing the interfaces of a Si/SiOC:H/SiCN:H/Cu stack annealed at 400 °C using transmission electron microscopy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"836 ","pages":"Article 140871"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146049151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140867
Daniel F. Fernandes , Jaime J. Hernández , Seohan Kim , Alberto Martín–Asensio , Patricia Pedraz , Jang–Hee Yoon , Isabel Rodríguez , Lars Österlund , Tomas Kubart
This study investigates the crystallization kinetics of TiO₂ thin films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering, with the aim of identifying optimal process conditions for initially X-ray amorphous films subjected to post-deposition annealing. Thin films were grown using both high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and pulsed direct current magnetron sputtering (pDCMS). Particular attention was given to the different reactive modes of operation and the ionization of the deposition flux. As-deposited films contained traces of anatase, brookite, and rutile phases, revealed by TEM and Raman spectroscopy analysis. The crystallization process during post-deposition annealing was monitored in situ using Grazing Incidence Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (GIWAXS). All films crystallized into the anatase phase; however, the crystallization kinetics were strongly dependent on the growth conditions. Films deposited by HiPIMS exhibited faster crystallization compared to pDCMS, especially in the absence of substrate heating. Notably, films deposited in the so-called metal mode – characterized by high deposition rates and low oxygen partial pressures – crystallized more rapidly, an effect attributed to the higher internal energy of the as-deposited material. Furthermore, a combination of moderate substrate temperature (100 °C), high oxygen partial pressure and low flux energy input during deposition promoted the formation of a (001)-oriented anatase texture after annealing.
{"title":"Crystallization kinetics of TiO2 thin films: A comparative study of film deposition conditions","authors":"Daniel F. Fernandes , Jaime J. Hernández , Seohan Kim , Alberto Martín–Asensio , Patricia Pedraz , Jang–Hee Yoon , Isabel Rodríguez , Lars Österlund , Tomas Kubart","doi":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140867","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsf.2026.140867","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the crystallization kinetics of TiO₂ thin films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering, with the aim of identifying optimal process conditions for initially X-ray amorphous films subjected to post-deposition annealing. Thin films were grown using both high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and pulsed direct current magnetron sputtering (pDCMS). Particular attention was given to the different reactive modes of operation and the ionization of the deposition flux. As-deposited films contained traces of anatase, brookite, and rutile phases, revealed by TEM and Raman spectroscopy analysis. The crystallization process during post-deposition annealing was monitored <em>in situ</em> using Grazing Incidence Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (GIWAXS). All films crystallized into the anatase phase; however, the crystallization kinetics were strongly dependent on the growth conditions. Films deposited by HiPIMS exhibited faster crystallization compared to pDCMS, especially in the absence of substrate heating. Notably, films deposited in the so-called metal mode – characterized by high deposition rates and low oxygen partial pressures – crystallized more rapidly, an effect attributed to the higher internal energy of the as-deposited material. Furthermore, a combination of moderate substrate temperature (100 °C), high oxygen partial pressure and low flux energy input during deposition promoted the formation of a (001)-oriented anatase texture after annealing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23182,"journal":{"name":"Thin Solid Films","volume":"835 ","pages":"Article 140867"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}