Specific Process Knowledge/Thin film deposition/Deposition of Silicon Oxide/Deposition of Silicon Oxide using Lesker sputter tool: Difference between revisions

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''By Bjarke Thomas Dalslet @Nanotech.dtu.dk''
''By Bjarke Thomas Dalslet @Nanotech.dtu.dk''


The Lesker CMS 18 sputter system provides thin films of varying surface roughness. This roughness was verified to be dependent on the sputtered material, sputter mode (DC or RF) and the substrate bias strength. Other probable factors include sputter power and pressure. Below is a table of results for SiO<sub>2</sub>. Similar studies were carried out for [http://labadviser.nanolab.dtu.dk/index.php/Specific_Process_Knowledge/Thin_film_deposition/Deposition_of_Silicon/Si_sputter_in_Sputter-System_Lesker Si] and Ta.
The Lesker CMS 18 sputter system provides thin films of varying surface roughness. This roughness was verified to be dependent on the sputtered material, sputter mode (DC or RF) and the substrate bias strength. Other probable factors include sputter power and pressure. Below is a table of results for SiO<sub>2</sub>. Similar studies were carried out for [http://labadviser.nanolab.dtu.dk/index.php/Specific_Process_Knowledge/Thin_film_deposition/Deposition_of_Silicon/Si_sputter_in_Sputter-System_Lesker Si] and [http://labadviser.nanolab.dtu.dk/index.php/Specific_Process_Knowledge/Thin_film_deposition/Deposition_of_Tantalum/Sputtering_of_Ta Ta].


The "SiO<sub>2</sub> target (RF sputter)" study was done on clean Si substrates. The sputter power was 157W and the pressure 3.5 mTorr using RF sputtering of a SiO<sub>2</sub> target. The film thicknesses were around 42 nm.
The "SiO<sub>2</sub> target (RF sputter)" study was done on clean Si substrates. The sputter power was 157W and the pressure 3.5 mTorr using RF sputtering of a SiO<sub>2</sub> target. The film thicknesses were around 42 nm.

Revision as of 17:52, 21 April 2020

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Sputter deposition of SiO2 using Sputter-System (Lesker)

SiO2 can be sputter deposited with RF bias in the Sputter-System (Lesker). You will find information on the pressure, max power and expected deposition rate on the Equipment page here in LabAdviser. To see the deposition parameters used by others, search the Process Log in LabManager.

Below you will find the deposition parameters and results of a study on the surface roughness and oxide insulation quality of the sputtered SiO2.

Surface roughness optimization

By Bjarke Thomas Dalslet @Nanotech.dtu.dk

The Lesker CMS 18 sputter system provides thin films of varying surface roughness. This roughness was verified to be dependent on the sputtered material, sputter mode (DC or RF) and the substrate bias strength. Other probable factors include sputter power and pressure. Below is a table of results for SiO2. Similar studies were carried out for Si and Ta.

The "SiO2 target (RF sputter)" study was done on clean Si substrates. The sputter power was 157W and the pressure 3.5 mTorr using RF sputtering of a SiO2 target. The film thicknesses were around 42 nm.

From SiO2 target (RF sputter)

Wafer nr RF bias (W) Reactive O2 (%) Power(W) Rq (RMS) (nm) Thickness (nm)
3 0 0 157 0.902
6 5 0 157 0.499 44
7 10 0 157 0.142 42
8 15 0 157 0.422 40


Oxide insulation analysis

by Bjarke Thomas Dalslet @Nanotech.dtu.dk

The wafers in this analysis consisted of a Si substrate with no native oxide. A layer of SiO2 was reactively sputtered (9% O2 90 W 3.5 mTorr). After that, using a shadow mask, 200nm thick gold rectangles was electro deposited on top of the oxide. Gold was also electro deposited on the back side. Then the impedance as a function of frequency was recorded.

The figure shows the measurements for different oxide thicknesses. Most of the measurements show perfect capacitors, although for illustration measurements with a few pinholes and with many pinholes is also shown for the 20 nm sample.

The success rate for the different thicknesses can be seen in the table, together with the number of samples measured and the number of perfect capacitors.

It is possible to make perfect capacitors with oxide thicknesses down to and including 5 nm and possibly even thinner, although the failure rate increases. Bear in mind, though that each structure measured here has an area of 8 mm2 - for a 1 mm2 structure the failure rate would be much lower, assuming the short circuits are not located on the sides of the structures.

alt text

Name Thickness [nm] # samples measured # good capacitors Success rate [%]
38 5 11 1 9
39 10 10 2 20
40 20 7 3 43
41 30 7 7 100
37 50 7 7 100