Thickness evaluation is a particular challenge encountered in the fabrication of nanosculptured thin films fabricated by glancing angle deposition (GLAD). In this article, we deduce equations which allow for accurate in situ thickness monitoring of GLAD thin films deposited onto substrates tilted with respect to the direction of incoming vapor. Universal equations are derived for the general case of Gaussian vapor flux distribution, off-axis sensors, variable substrate tilt, and nonunity sticking coefficient. The mathematical description leads to an incidence angle dependence of thickness and density, allowing for quantitative prediction of porosity in samples with different morphologies and thickness calibrations. In addition, variation of sticking probability with the incidence angle creates a nonmonotonic variation of the film thickness and porosity with the substrate tilt. We discuss the implications of the substrate type, sensor type, and source geometry in a precise quantitative determination of the thickness of thin films fabricated on tilted substrates. Our equations can be particularized for the case of films fabricated at normal incidence.
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November 2005
This content was originally published in
Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B: Microelectronics and Nanometer Structures Processing, Measurement, and Phenomena
Research Article|
November 21 2005
Thickness and density evaluation for nanostructured thin films by glancing angle deposition
Cristina Buzea;
Cristina Buzea
a)
Department of Physics,
Queen’s University
, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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Kate Kaminska;
Kate Kaminska
Department of Physics,
Queen’s University
, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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Gisia Beydaghyan;
Gisia Beydaghyan
Department of Physics,
Queen’s University
, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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Tim Brown;
Tim Brown
Department of Physics,
Queen’s University
, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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Chelsea Elliott;
Chelsea Elliott
Department of Physics,
Queen’s University
, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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Cory Dean;
Cory Dean
Department of Physics,
Queen’s University
, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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Kevin Robbie
Kevin Robbie
Department of Physics,
Queen’s University
, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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a)
Electronic mail: cristi@physics.queensu.ca
J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 23, 2545–2552 (2005)
Article history
Received:
May 13 2005
Accepted:
October 05 2005
Citation
Cristina Buzea, Kate Kaminska, Gisia Beydaghyan, Tim Brown, Chelsea Elliott, Cory Dean, Kevin Robbie; Thickness and density evaluation for nanostructured thin films by glancing angle deposition. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 1 November 2005; 23 (6): 2545–2552. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.2131079
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