RuO2 films by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

Pure and conducting RuO2 thin films were successfully deposited on Si, SiO2/Si, and quartz substrates at temperatures as low as 550 °C by a hot wall metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Bis(cyclopentadienyl)ruthenium, Ru(C5H5)2, was used as the precursor. An optimized MOCVD process for conducting RuO2 thin films was established. Film structure was dependent on MOCVD process parameters such as bubbler temperature, dilute gas flow rates, deposition temperature, and total pressure. Either pure RuO2, pure Ru, or a RuO2 + Ru mixture was obtained under different deposition conditions. As-deposited pure RuO2 films were specular, crack-free, and well adhered on the substrates. The Auger electron spectroscopy depth profile showed good composition uniformity across the bulk of the films. The MOCVD RuO2 thin films exhibited a resistivity as low as 60 μω-cm. In addition, the reflectance of RuO2 in the NIR region had a metallic character.