• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the effects of shutter control by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering using Inductively-Coupled Plasma(ICP) for obtaining ZnO thin films with high purity. The surface morphologies and structure of deposited ZnO thin films were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray Diffractometer (XRD). Also, optical and chemical properties of ZnO thin films were analyzed by Spectroscopic Ellipsometer (SE) and X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). As a result, it observed that ZnO thin films grown at reactive sputtering using shutter control and ICP were higher density, lower surface roughness, better crystallinity than other conventional sputtering deposition methods. For obtaining better quality deposition ZnO thin films, we will investigate the effects of substrate temperature and RF power on shutter control by a reactive magnetron sputtering using inductively-coupled plasma.

• Proceedings of the Korean Ceranic Society Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.191.1-191
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.67-67
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• 1999

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.96-97
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• 2012

In nitride and oxide film deposition, sputtered metals react with nitrogen or oxygen gas in a vacuum chamber to form metal nitride or oxide films on a substrate. The physical properties of sputtered films (metals, oxides, and nitrides) are strongly influenced by magnetron plasma density during the deposition process. Typical target power densities on the magnetron during the deposition process are ~ (5-30) W/cm2, which gives a relatively low plasma density. The main challenge in reactive sputtering is the ability to generate a stable, arc free discharge at high plasma densities. Arcs occur due to formation of an insulating layer on the target surface caused by the re-deposition effect. One current method of generating an arc free discharge is to use the commercially available Pinnacle Plus+ Pulsed DC plasma generator manufactured by Advanced Energy Inc. This plasma generator uses a positive voltage pulse between negative pulses to attract electrons and discharge the target surface, thus preventing arc formation. However, this method can only generate low density plasma and therefore cannot allow full control of film properties. Also, after long runs ~ (1-3) hours, depends on duty cycle the stability of the reactive process is reduced due to increased probability of arc formation. Between 1995 and 1999, a new way of magnetron sputtering called HIPIMS (highly ionized pulse impulse magnetron sputtering) was developed. The main idea of this approach is to apply short ${\sim}(50-100){\mu}s$ high power pulses with a target power densities during the pulse between ~ (1-3) kW/cm2. These high power pulses generate high-density magnetron plasma that can significantly improve and control film properties. From the beginning, HIPIMS method has been applied to reactive sputtering processes for deposition of conductive and nonconductive films. However, commercially available HIPIMS plasma generators have not been able to create a stable, arc-free discharge in most reactive magnetron sputtering processes. HIPIMS plasma generators have been successfully used in reactive sputtering of nitrides for hard coating applications and for Al2O3 films. But until now there has been no HIPIMS data presented on reactive sputtering in cluster tools for semiconductors and MEMs applications. In this presentation, a new method of generating an arc free discharge for reactive HIPIMS using the new Cyprium plasma generator from Zpulser LLC will be introduced. Data (or evidence) will be presented showing that arc formation in reactive HIPIMS can be controlled without applying a positive voltage pulse between high power pulses. Arc-free reactive HIPIMS processes for sputtering AlN, TiO2, TiN and Si3N4 on the Applied Materials ENDURA 200 mm cluster tool will be presented. A direct comparison of the properties of films sputtered with the Advanced Energy Pinnacle Plus + plasma generator and the Zpulser Cyprium plasma generator will be presented.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2019

Reactive sputtering is widely used because of its high deposition rate and high step coverage. The deposition layer is often affected by target poisoning because the target conditions are changed, as well, by reactive gases during the initial stage of sputtering process. The reactive gas affects the deposition rate and process stability (target poisoning), and it also leads unintended oxide interlayer formation. Although the target poisoning mechanism has been well known, little attention has been paid on understanding the interlayer formation during the reactive sputtering. In this research, we studied the interlayer formation during the reactive sputtering. A DC magnetron sputtering process is carried out to deposit an aluminum oxide film on a silicon wafer. From the real-time process monitoring and material analysis, the target poisoning phenomena changes the reactive gas balance at the initial stage, and affects the interlayer formation during the reactive sputtering process.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.688-694
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• 1999

Ti-6Al-4V-N films have been grown onto glass substrates by dc reactive magnetron sputtering from a Ti-6Al-4V-N alloy target at different nitrogen partial pressure, input powers and sputtering times. The influence of various sputtering conditions on structural properties of Ti-6Al-4V-N films was investigated by measuring their X-ray diffraction. The quaternary Ti-6Al-4V-N film is crystallizing in a face centered cubic TiN structure, the lattice parameter is smaller than the TiN parameter as titanium atoms of the TiN lattice are replaced by aluminum and vanadium atoms. The films show the (111) preferred orientation and the (111) peak intensity decreases as the nitrogen partial pressure is increased, but the intensity increases as the sputtering time is increased. The deposition rate and the grain size are alto related with the variation of various sputtering conditions.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.49.2-49.2
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• 2010

Copper oxide films have been deposited on silicon substrates by direct current magnetron sputtering of Cu in O2 / Ar gas mixtures. The target oxidation occurring as a result of either adsorption or ion-plating of reactive gases to the target has a direct effect on the discharge current and the resulting composition of the deposited films. The kinetic model which relates the target oxidation to the discharge current was proposed, showing the one-to-one relationship between discharge current characteristics and film stoichiometry of the deposited films.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.378-382
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• 2009

We investigated the effects of deposition conditions on the fabrication of $Fe_{3}O_{4}$ thin films using a reactive DC magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of Fe oxide films dependence on the film thickness, oxygen flow rate, and the substrate crystallinity were also studied. We have successfully fabricated $Fe_{3}O_{4}$ film with thickness of about 10 nm under optimal reactive sputtering conditions. The saturation magnetization, resistivity, and Verwey transition of the $Fe_{3}O_{4}$ film were298 emu/cc, $4.0{\times}10^{-2}{\Omega}cm$, and 125 K, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.808-813
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• 2009

Indium nitride thin films were deposited by the radio-frequency reactive magnetron sputtering method. The indium target was sputtered by the mixture flow ratio of $N_2$ to Ar, 9:1. The effects of growth temperature on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the films were investigated. With increasing the growth temperature, the crystallinity of the films was improved, and the crystalline size was increased. The energy bandgap for the film grown at $25^{\circ}C$ was 3.63 eV, and the bandgap showed an increasing tendency on the growth temperature. The carrier concentration, Hall mobility and electrical resistivity of the films depended significantly on the growth temperature and the maximum Hall mobility of $32.3\;cm^2$/Vsec was observed for the film grown at $400^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.17-21
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• 2004

Aluminum nitride(AlN) thin films were deposited on silicon substrate by reactive RF magnetron sputtering without substrate heating. We investigated the dependence of some properties for AlN thin film on sputtering conditions such as working pressure, $N_2$ concentration and RF power. XRD, Ellipsometer and AES has been measured to find out structural properties and preferred orientation of AlN thin films. Deposition rate of AlN thin film was increased with an increase of RF power and decreased with an increase of $N_2$ concentration. AES in-depth measurements showed that stoichiometry of Aluminium and Nitrogen elements were not affected by $N_2$ concentration. It has shown that low working pressure, low $N_2$ concentration and high RF power should be maintained to deposit AlN thin film with a high degree of (0002) preferred orientation.