Characteristics of highly orientated BiFeO3 thin films on a LaNiO3-coated Si substrate by RF sputtering

BiFeO₃ (BFO) films were grown on LaNiO₃-coated Si substrate by a RF magnetron sputtering system at temperatures in the range of 300-700 °C. X-ray reflectivity and high-resolution diffraction measurements were employed to characterize the microstructure of these films. For a substrate temperature below 300 °C and at 700 °C only partially crystalline films and completely randomly polycrystalline films were grown, whereas highly (001)-orientated BFO film was obtained for a substrate temperature in the range of 400-600 °C. The crystalline quality of BFO thin films increase as the deposition temperature increase except for the film deposited at 700 °C. The fitted result from X-ray reflectivity curves show that the densities of the BFO films are slightly less than their bulk values. For the BFO films deposited at 300-600 °C, the higher the deposition temperature, the larger the remnant polarization and surface roughness of the films present.     

Conductivity of nanometer TiO2 thin films by magnetron sputtering

The conductivity of nanometer TiO₂ thin films was presented in this paper. The dependence of the conductivity of TiO₂ thin films on the thickness of the film and the substrate material were educed. The TiO₂ films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering of a Ti targets in an Ar+O₂ mixture in a conventional sputtering reactor. The thickness of the films deposited on Ti varied in the range from 15 to 225 nm. The resistivity of the films was measured at room temperature in the air. It was found that the conductivity of TiO₂ thin films varies in the range from conductor, semiconductor to nonconductor. This was attributed to electrons transfer at the interface between the TiO₂ and substrates, and the depth of electrons transfer was determined by the difference of work function.     

Hydrophilic properties of nano-TiO2 thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering

Microstructure and hydrophilicity of nano-titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films, deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering, annealed at different temperatures, were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle methods. It is found that the crystal phase transforms from amorphous to rutile structure with increase of annealing temperature from room temperature to 800 °C. It is also indicated that the organic contaminants on the surface of the films can be removed and the oxygen vacancies can be reduced by the annealing treatment. Annealed at the temperature below 300 °C, amorphous TiO₂ thin films show rather poor hydrophilicity, and annealed at the temperature range from 400 to 650 °C, the super hydrophilicity anatase of TiO₂ thin films can be observed. However, when the annealing temperature reaches 800 °C, the hydrophilicity of the films declines mainly derived from the appearance of rutile.     

Effects of process parameters on the LaNiO3 thin films deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering

LaNiO₃ thin films were deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering on both (100) Si and platinized Si substrates. The effects of relative oxygen ratio, substrate and annealing temperatures on the microstructure and the electrical properties of the films were investigated. The La/Ni ratio was found to be influenced by the relative oxygen ratio. On the other hand, the orientation of LaNiO₃ was significantly influenced by the substrate temperature. Highly (100)-oriented LaNiO₃ thin films were obtained on SiO₂/Si(100) and Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates when the substrates temperature was 300 °C with the relative oxygen ratio below 33%. In addition, the (100)-oriented LaNiO₃ showed the lower resistivity than that of random-oriented LaNiO₃.     

Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering

Nano-TiO₂ thin films were deposited on silicon and glass substrates by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering using TiO₂ ceramic target and characterized by X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, atomic force microscope, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by light induced degradation of 5 ppm methyl orange solution using a high pressure mercury lamp as lamp-house. It was found that the film as deposited is polymorph, with energy gap of 3.02 eV, and can absorb visible light. The film was repeatedly used for six times in degradation of 5 ppm methyl orange, and the degradation rates of methyl orange solution are 36.566%, 33.112%, 32.824%, 32.248%, 30.521% and 28.794%, respectively. After ultrasonic treatment in de-ionized water for ten minutes, the degradation rate of methyl orange solution resumes to 33.975%.     

Characterization and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 thin films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering

TiO₂ nano-structured thin films were prepared by RF magnetron sputtering and annealed in ambient air for 1 h at 400, 600, 800, 1000, and 1200 °C, respectively. Their phase structure, surface topography, and energy gap were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, atomic force microscope, and fluorescence spectrometer. Photocatalytic activity of the films was evaluated by light induced degradation of methyl orange (C₁₄H₁₄N₃NaO₃S) solution using a high pressure mercury lamp as lamp-house. The relation of photocatalytic activity and annealed temperature was studied in detail. It is found that the crystal phase transforms from amorphous to anatase, and rutile structure with annealing temperature increasing from room temperature to 1200 °C. Energy gap varies with annealing temperature. Photocatalytic activity is dependent on energy gap and grain size. Suitable energy gap from 2.97 to 3.07 eV is favorable for creation of electronic-hole pairs that make the films show excellent photocatalytic activity.     

射频磁控溅射制备硼碳氮薄膜

采用射频磁控溅射技术,用六角氮化硼和石墨为溅射靶,以氩气(Ar)和氮气(N2)为工作气体,在Si (100)衬底上制备出硼碳氮薄膜.通过X射线衍射(XRD)、傅里叶红外吸收光谱(FTIR)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等分析手段对样品结构、组分进行了分析.结果表明,样品的组成原子之间实现了原子级化合,且薄膜为乱层石墨结构.样品中B、C、N的原子比近似为1:1:1.     

(Pb0.90La0.10)Ti0.975O3/LaNiO3薄膜的射频磁控溅射制备和性能研究

采用射频磁控溅射技术,以LaNiO3(LNO)作为过渡层,在SiO2/Si(100)、Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si(100)衬底上分别获得了(100)、(110)取向的(Pb0.90La0.10)Ti0.975O3(PLT)铁电薄膜.研究了LNO/Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si(100)和LNO/SiO2/Si(100)基底对PLT薄膜微结构和铁电性能的影响.实验结果表明,与在LNO/Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si(100)基底上沉积的(110)取向的PLT薄膜相比较,在LNO/SiO2/Si(100)基底上沉积的高度(100)取向的PLT薄膜具有更好的微结构和更高的剩余极化强度,其2Pr为40.4μC/cm2.     

The preparation of Zn-ferrite epitaxial thin film from epitaxial Fe3O4:ZnO multilayers by ion beam sputtering deposition

A new method to grow a well-ordered epitaxial ZnFe₂O₄ thin film on Al₂O₃(0001) substrate is described in this work. The samples were made by annealing the ZnO/Fe₃O₄ multilayer which was grown with low energy ion beam sputtering deposition. Both the Fe₃O₄ and ZnO layers were found grown epitaxially at low temperature and an epitaxial ZnFe₂O₄ thin film was formed after annealing at 1000 °C. X-ray diffraction shows the ZnFe₂O₄ film is grown with an orientation of ZnFe₂O₄(111)//Al₂O₃(0001) and ZnFe₂O₄(1-10)//Al₂O₃(11-20). X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies show that Zn²⁺ atoms replace the tetrahedral Fe²⁺ atoms in Fe₃O₄ during the annealing. The magnetic properties measured by vibrating sample magnetometer show that the saturation magnetization of ZnFe₂O₄ grown from ZnO/Fe₃O₄ multilayer reaches the bulk value after the annealing process.     

射频磁控溅射制备Mn掺杂ZnO薄膜的结构与光学性能

采用反应射频磁控溅射方法制备Zn1-xMnxO薄膜(0≤x≤0.25),并在不同温度下进行退火处理.通过原子力显微镜、薄膜X射线衍射、透射电子显微镜和透射光谱对薄膜的成分、表面形貌、微结构和光学性质进行了研究.结果表明,薄膜结晶质量明显地依赖于掺杂Mn元素的浓度,所有薄膜都表现了沿(002)晶面方向择优取向生长,当Mn...     

Structural and optical properties of yttrium trioxide thin films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering

Yttrium trioxide (Y₂O₃) thin films have been deposited on silicon (111) at different RF powers and the sputtering pressures by RF magnetron sputtering. The influences of the RF power and the sputtering pressures on the structural and optical properties of Y₂O₃ thin films were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM) and spectroscopic ellipsometer (SE). The results show that chemical composition of as-deposited Y₂O₃ film is apparently close to the stoichiometric ratio and it is crystallized but crystallinity is poor. The monoclinic and cubic fluorite-like structure can coexist in as-deposited Y₂O₃ film. A four-layer-structured optical model consisting of silicon substrate, silicon dioxide (SiO₂) interlayer, Y₂O₃ layer and a surface roughness (SR) layer is built for interpreting preferably the results measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. With the increase of RF power or decrease of sputtering pressure, the refractive index and optical bandgap of sputtered Y₂O₃ film is increased and the extinction coefficients is decreased.     

Epitaxial growth of Cr2O3 thin film on Al2O3 (0001) substrate by radio frequency magnetron sputtering combined with rapid-thermal annealing

We prepared epitaxially grown Cr₂O₃ thin films on Al₂O₃ (0001) substrate by using radio frequency magnetron sputtering at room temperature followed by a rapid-thermal annealing process. It is shown that the phase and the crystallinity of as-grown samples depend on the flow ratios of the working gas (Ar/O₂). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that oxygen-rich CrO₃ phase having preferred orientation is formed when sputter-grown at room temperature under the working gas (Ar/O₂) flow ratios of 9:1 and 7:3. XRD Φ-scanning results exhibit that annealing causes the oxygen-rich CrO₃ phase to transform into epitaxial Cr₂O₃ phase, which is confirmed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The samples grown at the gas flow ratio of 9:1 exhibit very smooth surfaces with root mean square roughness of 0.1-0.3 nm.     

Protective YSZ-based thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering

Protective Zr(Y)O_2−δ-based films sputter-deposited onto apatite-type lanthanum silicate ceramics were appraised for potential applications in solid oxide fuel cells with silicate-based solid electrolytes, where the performance may suffer from surface decomposition processes in reducing atmospheres. Dense and crystalline coatings were deposited using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering from an yttria-stabilized zirconia target. On the basis of microstructural analysis and profile measurements, a sputtering power of 300 W was selected in order to achieve deposition rates in the range 0.50-0.75 μm/h. The surface morphology studies using an atomic force microscope revealed typical film structures with small (<50 nm) grains. The polarization of model electrochemical cells with cermet anodes comprising Ni, yttria-stabilized zirconia and Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2−δ (50:30:20 wt.%), deposited onto the protective zirconia films, was found quite similar to that of copper-zirconia cermets without interlayers, suggesting that the electrochemical reaction is essentially governed by the oxygen anion transfer from zirconia phase and/or hydrogen oxidation in the vicinity of zirconia film surface.     

Fabrication of epitaxial conductive LaNiO3 films on different substrates by pulsed laser ablation

LaNiO₃ (LNO) thin films were deposited on (1 0 0) MgO, SrTiO₃ (STO) and LaAlO₃ (LAO) crystal substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) under 20 Pa oxygen pressure at different substrate temperatures from 450 to 750 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), ex situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to characterize the crystal structure of LNO films. LNO films deposited on STO and LAO at a temperature range from 450 to 700 °C exhibit high (0 0 l) orientation. XRD ψ scans and RHEED observations indicate that LNO films could be epitaxially grown on these two substrates with cubic-on-cubic arrangement at a wide temperature range. LNO films deposited at 700 °C on MgO (1 0 0) substrate have the (l l 0) orientation, which was identified to be bicrystalline epitaxial growth. La₂NiO₄ phase appears in LNO films deposited at 750 °C on three substrates. The epitaxial LNO films were tested to be good metallic conductive layers by four-probe method.     

Study of the structural and optical properties of GaPN thin films grown by magnetron RF sputtering

GaP_1−xN_x thin films were deposited on glass substrates by RF sputtering employing a nitrogen-argon atmosphere in a partial pressure of 2×10⁻² Torr. We varied the growth temperature in the range 420-520 °C. The film's optical properties were studied by transmittance and absorbance spectroscopy. Characterization by scanning electron microscopy in cross-sectional view, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction was performed to determinate the film thickness, surface morphology, and crystal structure, respectively. Raman spectroscopy was employed to analyze the structural properties of samples. The GaP_1−xN_x films presented a cubic polycrystalline structure with a preferential orientation along the [1 1 1] direction. By varying the growth conditions we were able to change the band gap energy between 1.35 and 1.98 eV.     

Preparation of epitaxial DyFeO3 thin films and magnetodielectric coupling

Multiferroic DyFeO₃ thin films deposited on (001) Nb-doped SrTiO₃ (NSTO) substrates are prepared by pulsed laser deposition. We demonstrate the epitaxial deposition of DyFeO₃ thin films on the substrates with the DyFeO₃(001)//NSTO(001) out-of-plane and DyFeO₃[100]//NSTO[110] in-plane epitaxial relationship. In addition, the weak ferromagnetism and significant magnetodielectric coupling effect at low temperature are revealed. It is indicated that the DyFeO₃ thin films have very different properties from the DyFeO₃ single crystals in term of multiferroicity.     

Characterization of bi-phased Zr2ON2–ZrO2 coatings deposited by RF magnetron sputtering

The aim of this work is to develop zirconium oxynitride coatings by RF magnetron sputtering on silicon substrates. The film properties were analyzed as a function of oxygen flux percentage in two different inert gas atmospheres namely argon and helium. At low oxygen flux percentage, Zr₂ON₂ and ZrO₂ phases are observed from the structural characterization by X-ray diffraction. The atomic ratio of nonmetallic to metallic atoms (N + O)/Zr content varies from 1.22 to 2.03 for zirconium oxynitride films deposited in argon atmosphere and from 1.43 to 2.33 for films deposited in helium atmosphere. The thickness of the film was measured by surface profiler and the growth rate decreases from 11.33 to 5.1 nm/min for films deposited in argon atmosphere and from 7.01 to 3.75 nm/min for films deposited in helium atmosphere with increase in oxygen flux percentage. The films deposited are hydrophobic and the contact angle was measured by contact angle measuring system. Higher surface roughness and maximum contact angle values of 100° and 103° are observed for films deposited in argon and helium atmosphere respectively at low oxygen flux percentage (2.5%). The surface energy of films was calculated by two methods: Owens-Wendt's geometric mean and Wu's harmonic mean approach. The elevated surface energy values were observed with increase in oxygen flux percentage. The stress measurements of the deposited films were done by sin²ψ X-ray diffraction method which depends on the variation of Zr₂ON₂ and m-ZrO₂ phases.     

Switching properties of vanadium doped TiO2 thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering

In the present work thin films of Ti-Me (where Me: V, Nb, Ta) were deposited onto glass substrates by magnetron sputtering of mosaic target in reactive oxygen plasma. The properties of the prepared thin films were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron dispersive spectroscopy, temperature-dependent electrical and optical transmission spectroscopy measurements. The structural investigations indicate that thin films were XRD-amorphous. Reversible thermoresistance effect, recorded at 52 ± 1 °C was found from electrical measurements. The prepared coatings were well transparent in the visible part of the light spectrum from ca. 350 nm.     

氧化钒薄膜作为锂离子微电池阴极膜的磁控溅射技术的制备

研究了用磁控溅射系统来制备氧化钒薄膜,通过优化工艺条件制备出可用作锂离子微电池阴极膜的非晶态五氧化二钒（α-V2O5）薄膜。并使用X射线衍射（XRD）与X射线光电子谱（XPS）来表征薄膜的晶向及化学组分。结果表明通过调节氧气以及氩气的流量、基片的温度和溅射功率,可以制备出高纯度的α-V2O5薄膜。而且,半电池体系V2O5/LiPF6/Li被构造用于表征在锂电池中作为阴极膜的五氧化二钒（α-V2O5）的电学性质。在此电池系统经过10个循环放电后,薄膜放电电容趋于稳定值。