Abordagem inovadora com plasma de baixa temperatura para a deposição de filmes a partir do acetilacetonato de alumínio
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Data
2016-07-06
Autores
Battaglin, Felipe Augusto Darriba [UNESP]
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
Filmes de alumina foram depositados a partir de uma nova metodologia de deposição a plasma, utilizando o pó de acetilacetonato de alumínio (AAA) como precursor. Em trabalho prévio do grupo, foi demonstrada a viabilidade do sputtering do AAA em plasmas de argônio para deposição de filmes finos. Os bons resultados obtidos estimularam o desenvolvimento do presente trabalho, visando o aperfeiçoamento da metodologia de deposição. Para isso, primeiramente foram investigados os efeitos da alteração da composição química da atmosfera do plasma, por meio da incorporação de diferentes proporções de oxigênio (O2%) ao argônio, tornando o processo um sputtering reativo. As deposições foram realizadas espalhando-se o pó do AAA no eletrodo inferior de um sistema de plasma acoplado capacitivamente. Argônio, oxigênio ou a mistura de ambos foram admitidos até a pressão de 11,0 Pa. O plasma foi gerado pela aplicação de sinal de radiofrequência (13,56 MHz, 150 W) ao eletrodo contendo o pó, mantendo-se o eletrodo superior, também utilizado como porta-amostras, aterrado. O tempo de deposição foi de 90 minutos. Investigou-se o efeito da O2%, variada de 0 a 100%, nas propriedades dos filmes. Na etapa subsequente, filmes foram depositados por sputtering reativo utilizando-se a condição considerada ótima na última etapa do trabalho (O2% = 25%) e mantendo-se as condições de pressão, potência e tempo de tratamento constantes. Todavia, ao invés de aterrar o porta-amostras, pulsos retangulares negativos (600 V, 2 kHz, 1-100% de ciclo de trabalho) foram aplicados, promovendo bombardeamento iônico durante a deposição por sputtering reativo. O efeito do ciclo de trabalho dos pulsos nas propriedades dos filmes foi avaliado. Na última etapa do trabalho, filmes foram depositados pelo sputtering reativo a partir de atmosferas contendo 25% de O2 e 75% de Ar e em condições mais energéticas que as utilizadas nos ciclos anteriores. Para tal um primeiro conjunto de amostras foi preparado mediante aquecimento resistivo do porta-amostras (410ºC) em plasma de menor pressão (4,0 Pa) que a anteriormente utilizada. O tempo de deposição foi de 28 minutos. Um segundo conjunto de amostras foi preparado associando-se bombardeamento iônico de mais alta energia, pela aplicação de pulsos de 1200 V (20% ciclo de trabalho) ao porta-amostras e também reduzindo a pressão da atmosfera de deposição para 4,0 Pa. Nesta condição, o tempo de deposição foi de 60 minutos. Comparou-se os resultados obtidos nestes experimentos aos equivalentes obtidos anteriormente. A espessura da camada foi obtida por meio de um perfilômetro e a taxa de deposição pela razão entre espessura e tempo de deposição. A composição elementar e a estrutura molecular dos filmes foram investigadas através das técnicas de espectroscopia de retroespalhamento Rutherford e de absorção no infravermelho, respectivamente. Difração de raios X foi utilizada para investigar a microestrutura dos filmes. Inspeções na morfologia e composição química das superfícies foram conduzidas associando microscopia eletrônica de varredura e espectroscopia de energia dispersiva. A rugosidade foi derivada de perfis topográficos adquiridos por perfilometria e microscopia de força atômica, enquanto a molhabilidade da superfície foi determinada através da técnica de gota séssil. De forma geral, os filmes depositados apresentaram contribuições de grupos orgânicos e de inorgânicos relacionados à alumina amorfa. O aumento da O2% afetou a cinética do plasma, proporcionando alterações na taxa de deposição (1 a 25 nm/min), rugosidade (1 a 13 nm) e redução na concentração de carbono proveniente do precursor, de 43% (O2% = 0%) para 6% (O2% = 100%). Com o aumento na O2% também foram encontradas variações na densidade dos filmes, dentro da faixa de 0,7 a 1,9 g/cm³, e tendência de queda no ângulo de contato de 53 para 17°. Por sua vez, quando o bombardeamento iônico é associado ao processo de deposição, altera-se a taxa de crescimento dos filmes (3 a 29 nm/min) e a morfologia da superfície, por meio do alívio de tensões internas e aumento da estabilidade física da estrutura resultante. A composição química não sofreu alterações, devido as condições do sputtering reativo permanecerem inalteradas nas deposições. Já a rugosidade e a molhabilidade da superfície apresentaram comportamentos condizentes com os resultados da morfologia e topografia. Quando condições mais energéticas de deposição foram empregadas, filmes óxidos com contaminações orgânicas foram obtidos para a deposição que empregou aquecimento resistivo do porta-amostras. Nesta condição, devido a redução na pressão total, mesmo com o aquecimento resistivo a taxa de deposição foi maior (~ 6 vezes) que aquela obtida sem aquecimento. Para a situação em que bombardeamento iônico de alta energia foi utilizado, estrutura e composição química similares ao do composto precursor foram obtidas. Os resultados são interpretados em termos dos processos predominantes em cada uma das metodologias empregadas.
Alumina films were deposited by a new plasma deposition method using aluminum acetylacetonate (AAA) powder as precursor. In a previous study by our group, the feasibility of AAA sputtering in argon plasmas for thin films deposition was demonstrated. The good results obtained stimulated the development of this work, aiming at the improvement of the deposition methodology. For this, the effects of modifications in the chemical composition of the plasma atmosphere were first investigated, through the use of different oxygen to argon proportions (O2%), making the process a reactive sputtering. The depositions were performed by spreading the AAA powder on the lower electrode of a capacitively coupled plasma system. Argon, oxygen or a mixture of both were admitted up to a pressure of 11.0 Pa. Application of radiofrequency power (13.56 MHz, 150 W) to the powder covered electrode generated the plasma, keeping the upper electrode, also used as a sample holder, grounded. Deposition times of 90 minutes were used. The effects of varying the oxygen proportion from 0 to 100%, on the film properties were studied. In the subsequent stage, films were deposited by reactive sputtering using the condition considered best in the last stage of the work (O2% = 25%) and keeping the pressures, power and treatment time constant. Instead of grounding the sample holder, however, negative rectangular pulses (600 V, 2 kHz, 1-100% duty cycle) were applied, promoting ion bombardment during the deposition by reactive sputtering. The influence of the pulse duty cycle on the properties of the films was evaluated. In the last study stage, films were deposited by reactive sputtering from atmospheres containing 25% O2 and 75% Ar and with more energetic conditions than those used in previous cycles. For such, a first samples set was prepared by resistive heating of the sample holder (410ºC) in a lower plasma pressure (4.0 Pa) than that previously used. The deposition time was 28 minutes. A second samples set was carried out associating ion bombardment of the highest energy, by the application of the 1200 V pulses (20% duty cycle) to the sample holder and also reducing the pressure of the deposition atmosphere to 4.0 Pa. In this condition, the deposition time was 60 minutes. The results obtained in these experiments were compared to the equivalent obtained previously. Film thickness was obtained by profilometry and the deposition rate calculated as the ratio between the thickness and deposition time. Elemental composition and molecular structure of the films were investigated using Rutherford backscattering and infrared absorption spectroscopy, respectively. X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the microstructure of the films. Surface morphology and chemical composition were studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Roughness was derived from topographic profiles acquired by profilometry and atomic force microscopy, whereas the surface wettability was determined using the sessile drop technique. In general, the deposited films showed contributions from organic and inorganic groups related to amorphous alumina. Increasing in O2% affected the plasma kinetics, providing changes in deposition rate (1 to 25 nm/min), roughness (1 to 13 nm) and reduction in the carbon concentration coming from the precursor, 43% (O2% = 0%) to 6% (O2% = 100%). With the increase in O2% it was also found variations in the films density, within the range from 0.7 to 1.9 g/cm³, and a downward trend in the contact angle of 53 to 17°. In turn, when the ion bombardment is associated with the deposition process, changes are found in the deposition rate (3 to 29 nm/min) and the surface morphology, through the internal strains relief and increased in the physical stability of resulting structure. The chemical composition did not suffer changes because the conditions of the reactive sputtering remain unchanged in the depositions. The roughness and surface wettability showed behavior consistent with the morphology and topography results. When more energetic conditions were employed, oxide films with organic contaminations were obtained for the deposition which applied the sample holder resistive heating. In this condition, due to the reduction in the total pressure, even with the resistive heating the deposition rate was higher (~ 6 times) than that obtained without heating. For the situation which high-energy ion bombardment was used, the structure and chemical composition similar to the precursor were obtained. The results are interpreted in terms of the prevailing processes in each of the methodologies applied.
Alumina films were deposited by a new plasma deposition method using aluminum acetylacetonate (AAA) powder as precursor. In a previous study by our group, the feasibility of AAA sputtering in argon plasmas for thin films deposition was demonstrated. The good results obtained stimulated the development of this work, aiming at the improvement of the deposition methodology. For this, the effects of modifications in the chemical composition of the plasma atmosphere were first investigated, through the use of different oxygen to argon proportions (O2%), making the process a reactive sputtering. The depositions were performed by spreading the AAA powder on the lower electrode of a capacitively coupled plasma system. Argon, oxygen or a mixture of both were admitted up to a pressure of 11.0 Pa. Application of radiofrequency power (13.56 MHz, 150 W) to the powder covered electrode generated the plasma, keeping the upper electrode, also used as a sample holder, grounded. Deposition times of 90 minutes were used. The effects of varying the oxygen proportion from 0 to 100%, on the film properties were studied. In the subsequent stage, films were deposited by reactive sputtering using the condition considered best in the last stage of the work (O2% = 25%) and keeping the pressures, power and treatment time constant. Instead of grounding the sample holder, however, negative rectangular pulses (600 V, 2 kHz, 1-100% duty cycle) were applied, promoting ion bombardment during the deposition by reactive sputtering. The influence of the pulse duty cycle on the properties of the films was evaluated. In the last study stage, films were deposited by reactive sputtering from atmospheres containing 25% O2 and 75% Ar and with more energetic conditions than those used in previous cycles. For such, a first samples set was prepared by resistive heating of the sample holder (410ºC) in a lower plasma pressure (4.0 Pa) than that previously used. The deposition time was 28 minutes. A second samples set was carried out associating ion bombardment of the highest energy, by the application of the 1200 V pulses (20% duty cycle) to the sample holder and also reducing the pressure of the deposition atmosphere to 4.0 Pa. In this condition, the deposition time was 60 minutes. The results obtained in these experiments were compared to the equivalent obtained previously. Film thickness was obtained by profilometry and the deposition rate calculated as the ratio between the thickness and deposition time. Elemental composition and molecular structure of the films were investigated using Rutherford backscattering and infrared absorption spectroscopy, respectively. X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the microstructure of the films. Surface morphology and chemical composition were studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Roughness was derived from topographic profiles acquired by profilometry and atomic force microscopy, whereas the surface wettability was determined using the sessile drop technique. In general, the deposited films showed contributions from organic and inorganic groups related to amorphous alumina. Increasing in O2% affected the plasma kinetics, providing changes in deposition rate (1 to 25 nm/min), roughness (1 to 13 nm) and reduction in the carbon concentration coming from the precursor, 43% (O2% = 0%) to 6% (O2% = 100%). With the increase in O2% it was also found variations in the films density, within the range from 0.7 to 1.9 g/cm³, and a downward trend in the contact angle of 53 to 17°. In turn, when the ion bombardment is associated with the deposition process, changes are found in the deposition rate (3 to 29 nm/min) and the surface morphology, through the internal strains relief and increased in the physical stability of resulting structure. The chemical composition did not suffer changes because the conditions of the reactive sputtering remain unchanged in the depositions. The roughness and surface wettability showed behavior consistent with the morphology and topography results. When more energetic conditions were employed, oxide films with organic contaminations were obtained for the deposition which applied the sample holder resistive heating. In this condition, due to the reduction in the total pressure, even with the resistive heating the deposition rate was higher (~ 6 times) than that obtained without heating. For the situation which high-energy ion bombardment was used, the structure and chemical composition similar to the precursor were obtained. The results are interpreted in terms of the prevailing processes in each of the methodologies applied.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Alumina, Acetilacetonato de alumínio, Sputtering reativo, Bombardeamento iônico, Ciclo de trabalho, Aquecimento resistivo, Aluminum acetylacetonate, Reactive sputtering, Ion bombardment, Duty cycle, Resistive heating