Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T06:05:40.293Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Growth and Texture of Polycrystalline Thin Films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Richard W. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 48109
Feng Ying
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 48109
David J. Srolovitz
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 48109
Get access

Abstract

Two dimensional non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study microstructural evolution during the growth of polycrystalline thin films. Attention is focused on the interaction between grain boundaries and voids which form during deposition, and on the development of a preferred, crystallographic texture during film growth. In an intermediate temperature regime, where the film is cold enough to allow void formation but hot enough to allow grain boundary motion, boundaries move such as to attach themselves to voids as the voids form from depressions in the film surface. At lower temperatures, the boundaries have insufficient mobility to migrate toward the voids. At higher temperatures, films grow in the absence of voids. At low deposition kinetic energies, there is no tendency for polycrystalline films to develop a preferred texture. At moderate or high energy deposition kinetic energies, however, as in the case of magnetron sputtering, significant texture formation can result due to preferential (re)sputtering of atoms from the surface of grains with low-binding-energy exposed surfaces. Such preferential (re)sputtering provides a height advantage for grains possessing high-binding-energy exposed surfaces. The taller grains are seen to widen as deposition continues, resulting in the development of a preferred crystallographic orientation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Nix, W.D., Met. Trans. A, 20, 2217 (1989).Google Scholar
2. Movchan, B.A., Demchishin, A.V., Phys. Met. Metalogr. 28, 83 (1969).Google Scholar
3. Thornton, J.A., Ann. Rev. Mater. Sci. 7, 239 (1977).Google Scholar
4. Dirks, A.G., Leamy, H.J., Thin Solid Films 47, 219 (1977).Google Scholar
5. Tang, L., Thomas, G., J. Appl. Phys. 74, 5025 (1993).Google Scholar
6. Knorr, D.B., Tracy, D.P., Appl. Phys. Lett. 59, 3241 (1991).Google Scholar
7. Smith, R.W., Srolovitz, D.J., J. Appl. Phys. in press.Google Scholar
8. Thompson, M.W., Phil. Mag. 18, 377 (1968).Google Scholar
9. Ying, F., Smith, R.W., Srolovitz, D.J., submitted to Appl. Phys. Lett.Google Scholar