Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T20:16:21.703Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

“Enhanced Layer Coverage of Thin Films by Oblique Angle Deposition”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Tansel Karabacak ,
Gwo-Ching Wang  and
Toh-Ming Lu
Tansel Karabacak
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 12180–3590 karabt@rpi.edu
Gwo-Ching Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 12180–3590
Toh-Ming Lu
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 12180–3590
Get access

Abstract

The characteristics of nucleation and island growth in oblique angle deposition with substrate rotation have recently attracted interest due to the formation of novel 3D nanostructures by a physical self-assembly process. In this study, we present the results of a solid-on-solid growth simulation by a kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm that explores the layer coverage evolution of thin films during oblique angle deposition. The simulations accounted for oblique incidence flux, shadowing effect, surface diffusion, and substrate rotation. The layer coverage, the ratio of average island volume to average island size, and root-mean-square (RMS) roughness values are reported for the initial stages of island growth from submonolayer thicknesses up to a few monolayers. RMS roughness was also investigated for later stages of the growth. Our results show that, for small deposition angles and with limited or no surface diffusion included, the average growth rate of islands is faster in lateral directions that results in enhanced layer coverages and smoother films. This is due to that the sides of the islands can be exposed to the incident flux more effectively at small deposition angles. On the other hand, normal incidence and high oblique angle depositions give poorer layer coverages and much rougher films due to the slower growth rates in lateral directions.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 859: Symposium JJ – Modeling of Morphological Evolution at Surfaces and Interfaces , 2004 , JJ9.5
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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

REFERENCES

[1] Amar, J. G., Family., F., and Lam., P.-M., Phys. Rev. B 50, 8781 (1994).Google Scholar
[2] Bartelt, M. C. and Evans, J. W., Phys. Rev. B 46, 12675 (1992).Google Scholar
[3] Evans, J. W. and Bartelt, N. C., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 12, 1800 (1994).Google Scholar
[4] Bales, G. S. and Chrzan, D. C., Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 4879 (1995).Google Scholar
[5] Liu., B.-G., Wu., J., Wang, E.G., and Zhang., Z., Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 1195 (1999).Google Scholar
[6] Wu., J., Liu., B.-G., Zhang., Z., and Wang, E. G., Phys. Rev. B 61, 13 212 (2000).Google Scholar
[7] Ratsch, C. and Venables, J. A., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 21, S96 (2003).Google Scholar
[8] Altsinger., R., Busch., H., Horn., M., and Henzler., M., Surf. Sci. 200, 235 (1988).Google Scholar
[9] Horn Von Hoegen, M., Falta., J., and Henzler., M., Thin Solid Films 183, 213 (1989).Google Scholar
[10] Karabacak., T., Wang., G.-C., and Lu., T.-M., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 22, 1778 (2004).Google Scholar
[11] Lu., T.-M., Zhao., Y.-P., Drotar, J.T., Karabacak., T., and Wang., G.-C., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 749, 3 (2003).Google Scholar
[12] Barabasi, A.-L. and Stanley, H. E., Fractal Concepts in Surface Growth (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, 1995).Google Scholar
[13] Zhao., Y.-P., Wang., G.-C., and Lu., T.-M., Characterization of Amorphous and Crystalline Rough Surfaces: Principles and Applications (Academic Press, 2001).Google Scholar