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Thin films have other spatial properties besides their thickness, i.e. roughness |
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Interface roughness and surface roughness R defined by their "root mean
square". | |
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R | = | æ ç è
| 1 N | |
N S
i=1 | zi2 |
ö ÷ ø | ½ |
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Useable thin films adhere to their substrate. |
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A direct measure of adhesion is the interfacial energy gAB
between film A and substrate B. | |
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The phase diagram provides some guideline. Complete miscibility = good adhesion, (eutectic))
decomposition =(?) low adhesion. Calculations of g are difficult. |
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Full adhesion can only be obtained for films grown on
a substrate. Adhesion energies can be measured. | |
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Generally, there will be stress s and strain
e in a thin film and its substrate. |
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Stress and strain in thin films can be large and problematic!
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A major source of strain is the difference of the thermal expansion coefficients a | |
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eTF |
= |
DT · Da
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sTF |
= |
Y · DT · Da |
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Stress in thin films may relax by many mechanisms; and this might be good or bad:
- Cracking or buckling
- Plastic deformation
- Viscous flow
- Diffusion
- Bending of the whole system (Warpage)
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Warpage can be a serious problem in semiconductor technology. |
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© H. Föll (Semiconductor Technology - Script)