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Journal ArticleDOI

Mechanical and structural properties of RF magnetron sputter-deposited silicon carbide films for MEMS applications

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reported preparation and characterization of silicon carbide (SiC) films obtained by RF magnetron sputtering using a SiC ceramic target, and the residual stress of the films was measured as a function of sputtering parameters.
Abstract: In the present work, we report preparation and characterization of silicon carbide (SiC) films obtained by RF magnetron sputtering using a SiC ceramic target. The films were deposited in Ar ambient without external substrate heating. The residual stress of the films was measured as a function of sputtering parameters. The stress of the as-deposited films was observed to be compressive for the entire range of sputtering parameters used in the present work. Postdeposition annealing at 400 ?C in N2?ambient was useful in reducing the stress in the films. On sequentially annealing the films at higher temperatures (600 and 800 ?C), the nature of the stress changed from low compressive to high tensile. A superhard SiC film with low residual compressive stress (58.7 MPa) was obtained with hardness and Young's modulus values of 49.86 GPa and 363.75 GPa respectively. The x-ray diffraction pattern revealed that the films were either amorphous or nano-crystalline, depending on the deposition parameters and postdeposition annealing temperature. Atomic force microscopy roughness results confirmed good chemical stability of the films in potassium hydroxide and buffered hydrofluoric acid solutions. Several types of micro-structures were fabricated to demonstrate the feasibility and compatibility of these films in MEMS fabrication.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the physical, mechanical and tribological properties of various surface coatings and their impact on the replication efficiency and lifetime of micro/nano-molds that are used in micro-nano hot-embossing and injection molding processes are discussed.
Abstract: Micro/nano hot-embossing and injection molding are two promising manufacturing processes for the mass production of workpieces bearing micro/nanoscale features. However, both the workpiece and micro/nano-mold are susceptive to structural damage due to high thermal stress, adhesion and friction, which occur at the interface between the workpiece and the mold during these processes. Hence, major constraints of micro/nano-molds are mainly attributed to improper replication and their inability to withstand a prolonged sliding surface contact because of high sidewall friction and/or high adhesion. Consequently, there is a need for proper surface coating as it can improve the surface properties of micro/nano-molds such as having a low friction coefficient, low adhesion and low wear rate. This review deals with the physical, mechanical and tribological properties of various surface coatings and their impact on the replication efficiency and lifetime of micro/nano-molds that are used in micro/nano hot-embossing and injection molding processes.

65 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An outstanding electrochemical performance of Si@SiC-0.5 is attributed to the SiC phase, which acts as a buffer layer that stabilizes the nanostructure of the Si active phase and enhances the electrical conductivity of the electrode.
Abstract: Here, we propose a simple method for direct synthesis of a Si@SiC composite derived from a SiO2@C precursor via a Mg thermal reduction method as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. Owing to the extremely high exothermic reaction between SiO2 and Mg, along with the presence of carbon, SiC can be spontaneously produced with the formation of Si. The synthesized Si@SiC was composed of well-mixed SiC and Si nanocrystallites. The SiC content of the Si@SiC was adjusted by tuning the carbon content of the precursor. Among the resultant Si@SiC materials, the Si@SiC-0.5 sample, which was produced from a precursor containing 4.37 wt % of carbon, exhibits excellent electrochemical characteristics, such as a high first discharge capacity of 1642 mAh g–1 and 53.9% capacity retention following 200 cycles at a rate of 0.1C. Even at a high rate of 10C, a high reversible capacity of 454 mAh g–1 was obtained. Surprisingly, at a fixed discharge rate of C/20, the Si@SiC-0.5 electrode delivered a high capacity of 989 mAh g...

51 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of various deposition parameters such as the reactive gas flow ratio, plasma power, substrate temperature and chamber back pressure of ICP-CVD deposited a-SiC:H thin films is investigated and the influence on important MEMS-related properties like residual stress, Young's modulus, hardness, mass density and refractive index is evaluated.
Abstract: In this study, the impact of various deposition parameters such as the reactive gas flow ratio, plasma power, substrate temperature and chamber back pressure of ICP-CVD deposited a-SiC:H thin films is investigated and the influence on important MEMS-related properties like residual stress, Young’s modulus, hardness, mass density and refractive index is evaluated. Basically, tailoring of the as-deposited a-SiC:H characteristics is possible to a great extent with residual stress values ranging from −16 up to −808 MPa, Young’s modulus values between 36 and 209 GPa or deposition of layers with hardness values ranging from 5.3 to 27.2 GPa is feasible. Especially the mechanical parameters are strongly linked to both the Si C bond density and the amount of incorporated hydrogen obtained from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses.

22 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 May 2017-Silicon
TL;DR: In this paper, the formation of 3C-SiC films has been confirmed from low angle XRD analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), XPS and dark and photoconductivity measurements.
Abstract: Cubic nanocrystalline silicon carbide (3C-SiC) films have been deposited by using the hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HW-CVD) method at a low substrate temperature and at high deposition rate. Structural, optical and electrical properties of these films have been investigated as a function of H2 dilution ratio. The formation of 3C-SiC films has been confirmed from low angle XRD analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dark and photoconductivity measurements. The FTIR spectroscopy analysis revealed that the bond densities of Si-H and C-H decrease while that of Si-C increases with increase in the H2 dilution ratio. The total hydrogen content decreases with increase in H2 dilution ratio and was found < 15 at. % over the entire range of H2 dilution ratio studied whereas the band gap show an increasing trend with increase in the H2 dilution ratio.

13 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an intrinsic and doped, hydrogen-less amorphous silicon films are RF magnetron sputter deposited and post-hydrogenated in a remote hydrogen plasma reactor at a temperature of 370°C.

9 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, nitrogen-doped amorphous silicon carbide films were grown by a plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PE CVD) technique and the actual amount of nitrogen in the SiC films was determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS).
Abstract: Nitrogen-doped amorphous silicon carbide films were grown by a plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PE CVD) technique. The actual amount of nitrogen in the SiC films is determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). For irradiation experiments we use electron beams with a kinetic energy 200 keV, a pulse duration of 300 ns, and a beam current of 150 A/cm2. It is found that with increased nitrogen doping and following activation of dopants the resistivity of the amorphous SiC films is substantially reduced.

8 citations