A STUDY OF ALUMINA THIN FILMS GROWN BY LOW PRESSURE MOCVD: XPS AND AES

Abstract

We have studied the chemical composition of alumina ( Al 2 O 3) films grown on Si(100) at different substrate temperatures by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using aluminium acetylactonate { Al(acac) 3} as the precursor. We have found that the resulting films of Al 2 O 3 contain substantial amounts of carbon. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to study the chemical state of carbon present in such films. The XPS spectrum reveals that the carbon present in Al 2 O 3 film is graphitic in nature. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) was employed to study the distribution of carbon in the Al 2 O 3 films. The AES depth profile reveals that carbon is present throughout the film. The AES study on Al 2 O 3 films corroborates the XPS findings. An investigation of the Al 2 O 3/ Si (100) interface was carried out using cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). The TEM study reveals textured growth of alumina film on Si(100), with very fine grains of alumina embedded in an amorphous carbon-containing matrix.