High Quality Oxide Film Formation by 02 Cluster Ion Assisted Deposition Technique

Abstract

ABSTRACTA new oxide film formation technique using gas-cluster ion beams has been developed. 02 cluster ions were used to irradiate during the evaporation of metal atoms, and PbOx and In203 films were grown. At the acceleration voltages above 5 kV, polycrystalline PbOx films preferentially oriented to (111) were obtained. A significant smoothing effect was observed with an acceleration voltage as low as 1 kV. An average surface roughness of 0.9 nm was obtained at 7 kV. Oxygen cluster ion beams are also utilized to grow In203 films, which are widely used as conductive-transparent films in flat panel display. In203 was deposited on glass or silicon substrates with simultaneous irradiation with an oxygen cluster ion beam. Highly transparent (80%) and low resistivity (<4×10−4 Ωcm) films were obtained with 7keV oxygen cluster ion beams. Kinetic energy of above 3keV is necessary to obtain low resistivity films. These results clearly indicate that the kinetic energy of the cluster is effectively used to enhance oxidation on the surface without radiation damage, in spite of the high acceleration voltages.