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Preparation and characterization of CuN-based ternary alloy films using Cr or Zr for stabilizing N

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2017

Yuehong Zheng ,
Xiaona Li ,
Yubo Liu ,
Wei Sun  and
Chuang Dong
Yuehong Zheng
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion, and Electron Beams (Ministry of Education), Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning, China
Xiaona Li*
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams (Ministry of Education), Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning, China; and Changzhou Institute of Dalian University of Technology, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu, China
Yubo Liu
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion, and Electron Beams (Ministry of Education), Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning, China
Wei Sun
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion, and Electron Beams (Ministry of Education), Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning, China
Chuang Dong
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams (Ministry of Education), Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning, China; and Changzhou Institute of Dalian University of Technology, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu, China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: lixiaona@dlut.edu.cn
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Abstract

The surface hardening of Cu is an effective way to keep good electrical conductivity and increase chemical inertness. Here, Cr and Zr are introduced into Cu films to stabilize N and increase the film hardness. CuN-based alloy films are prepared on single-crystal Si(100) substrates using magnetron sputtering. Cu(Cr, N) films are mainly composed of Cu and Cr2N nanocrystals while Cu and Zr2N nanocrystals compose Cu(Zr, N) films. The thermal stability of the ternary films comes from the strong interaction between Cr (or Zr) and N which is contributing to the generation of stable nitrides. In terms of resistivity and hardness, the Cu(Cr, N) and Cu(Zr, N) films prepared at the N2/Ar ratio of 1/10 show preferable properties. Especially, the Cu86.1Zr6.1N7.8 film exhibits the highest hardness (∼4.7 GPa) and lowest resistivity (63.6 μΩ·cm). The chemical inertness of Cu film can also be improved by adding Cr–N and Zr–N. These ternary films are expected to apply for Cu surface nitrogenization.

Keywords

Cunitridehardness
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 32 , Issue 7 , 14 April 2017 , pp. 1333 - 1342
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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Footnotes

Contributing Editor: Yang-T. Cheng

References

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