Papers by Author: Chong Mu Lee

Abstract: The structure and electrical properties of ZrO2 dielectric thin films deposited by rf magnetron sputtering were investigated. The fixed oxide charge and interface trap density at the ZrO2/Si interface is substantially decreased by annealing at 500 C. Annealing treatment also enhances the quality of the film by reducing leakage current. The carrier transport mechanism in the ZrO2 film is dominated by thermionic emission.

Abstract: Chromium (Cr) films were deposited on plain carbon steel sheets by DC and RF magnetron sputtering as well as by electroplating. Effects of DC or RF sputtering power on the deposition rate and properties such as hardness and surface roughness of the Cr films were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microcopy (SEM) analyses were performed to investigate the crystal structure, surface roughness, thickness of the Cr films. The deposition rate, hardness and surface roughness of the Cr film deposited by either DC or RF sputtering increase with the increase of sputtering power. The deposition rate and hardness of the Cr film deposited by DC sputtering are higher than those of the Cr film deposited by RF sputtering, but RF sputtering offers smoother surface. The sputter-deposited Cr film is harder and has a smoother surface than the electroplated one.

Abstract: Effects of the O2/Ar flow ratio in the reactive sputtering process and the annealing temperature on the structure and surface roughness of ZrO2 films and the electric properties of Pt/ZrO2/Si MOS capacitors in which the ZrO2 film was deposited by magnetron sputtering have been investigated. The optimum process parameters of the Pt/ZrO2/Si capacitor based on reactively sputtered- ZrO2 determined in such a way as the capacitance is maximized and the leakage current, the oxide charge, and the interface trap density are minimized is the O2/Ar flow ratio of 1.5 and the annealing temperature of 800°C

Abstract: Influence of nitrogen and oxygen annealing atmospheres on the carrier concentration, carrier mobility, electrical resistivity and PL characteristics as well as the crystallinity of ZnO films deposited on sapphire substrates by atomic layer deposition (ALD) were compared. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) analyses, and Hall measurement were performed to investigate the crystallinity, optical properties and electrical properties of the ZnO thin films, respectively. The UV emission intensity for oxygen annealing is stronger than that for nitrogen annealing in the case of annealing at 600°C, but the difference decreases with the Increase of annealing temperature. The strongest UV emission is obtained by oxygen annealing at 800°C. However, from the viewpoint of electrical resistivity annealing at 1,000°C in either an oxygen or a nitrogen atmosphere is more desirable. Taking both the PL and electrical properties into consideration it may be concluded that optimum annealing condition for ZnO thin films grown on the sapphire substrate by ALD is an annealing temperature of 900°C and an annealing atmosphere of oxygen although the effects of annealing atmosphere on the optical and electrical properties are not so significant.

Abstract: Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have been deposited by radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (rf-PECVD) with different Ar-CH4 mixtures. Nanocrystalline diamond films have been deposited by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (MPCVD), using Ar-H2-CH4 mixtures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nanotribological investigation (by scanning force microscopy) have been used to compare the mechanical properties and structures of these films. Highly orientated and non-orientated microcrystalline diamond films and MPCVD-produced amorphous carbon have also been studied by way of comparison. The diamond films exhibit a linear relationship between roughness and the coefficient of friction. The DLC and amorphous carbon have higher friction coefficients than the best performing diamond film, but may more easily be deposited as smooth coating. Possible applications for these various carbon-based films include microelectromechanical components, for which smooth, hard coatings are required.

Abstract: ZnO thin films were deposited on sapphire (α-Al2O3) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering at substrate temperatures of 500, 600, 650 and 700°C for 3h at rf-powers ranging from 60 to 120 W. The FWHM of the XRD (0002) peak for the ZnO film was reduced down to 0.07° by optimizing the chamber pressure at a substrate temperature of 700°C. Sharp near-band-edge emission was observed in the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum for the ZnO film grown at room temperature. Excess RF power aggravates the crystallinity and the surface roughness of the ZnO thin film. Pole figure, AES and PL analysis results confirm us that RF magnetron sputtering offers ZnO films with a lower density of crystallographic defects. ZnO films with a high quality can be obtained by optimizing the substrate temperature, RF power, and pressure of the RF magnetron sputtering process.

Abstract: It is very desirable to grow ZnO epitaxial films on Si substrates since Si wafers with a high quality is available and their prices are quite low. Nevertheless, it is not easy to grow ZnO films epitaxially on Si substrates directly because of formation of an amorphous SiO2 layer at the interface of ZnO and Si. A Zn film and an undoped ZnO film were deposited sequentially on an (100) Si substrate by rf magnetron sputtering. The sample was annealed at 700°C in a nitrogen atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses were performed to investigate the cristallinity and surface morphology of the ZnO film. According to the analysis results the crystallinity of a ZnO thin film deposited by rf magnetron sputtering is substantially improved by using a Zn buffer layer. The highest ZnO film quality is obtained with a 110nm thick Zn buffer layer. The surface roughness of the ZnO thin film increases as the Zn buffer layer thickness increases.

Abstract: ZnO:Al thin films were deposited on sapphire(001) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. Effects of the O2/Ar flow ratio in the sputtering process on the crystallinity, surface roughness, carrier concentration, carrier mobility, and optical properties of the films were investigated. AFM analysis results show that the surface roughness is lowest at the O2/Ar flow ratio of 0.5 and tends to increase owing to the increase of the grain size as the O2/Ar flow ratio increases further than 0.5. According to the Hall measurement results the resistivity increases as the O2/Ar flow ratio increases. The transmittance of the film tends to increase as the O2/Ar gas flow ratio increases up to 0.5 but it nearly does not change with continued increases in the O2/Ar flow ratio. Considering the effects of the the O2/Ar flow ratio on the surface roughness, electrical resistivity and transmittance properties of the ZnO:Al film the optimum O2/Ar flow ratio is 0.5 in the RF magnetron sputter deposition of the ZnO:Al film.

Abstract: Ternary Ti-Zr-N thin films were synthesized by rf-reactive sputtering in Ar–N2 plasma. Effects of the substrate temperature in the sputtering process on the microstructures of Ti-Zr-N thin films were investigated using SEM, TEM, XRD and AES techniques. The hardness of the Ti-Zr-N film increases as the substrate temperature in reactive sputtering increases. The reactive sputtered Ti-Zr-N film is characterized as polycrystalline in nature with two dominant orientations of (111) and (200). A substrate temperature of 300°C is suggested for getting a densely packed film structure with the highest hardness.