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Title: Local residual stress monitoring of aluminum nitride MEMS using UV micro-Raman spectroscopy

Journal Article · · Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. Structures, Devices and Systems
 [1];  [2]
  1. The Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Localized stress variation in aluminum nitride (AlN) sputtered on patterned metallization has been monitored through the use of UV micro-Raman spectroscopy. This technique utilizing 325 nm laser excitation allows detection of the AlN E2(high) phonon mode in the presence of metal electrodes beneath the AlN layer with a high spatial resolution of less than 400 nm. The AlN film stress shifted 400 MPa from regions where AlN was deposited over a bottom metal electrode versus silicon dioxide. Thus, across wafer stress variations were also investigated showing that wafer level stress metrology, for example using wafer curvature measurements, introduces large uncertainties for predicting the impact of AlN residual stress on the device performance.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1239984
Report Number(s):
SAND-2015-10886J; 617639
Journal Information:
Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. Structures, Devices and Systems, Vol. 26, Issue 2; ISSN 0960-1317
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 3 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (14)

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Effect of particle bombardment on the orientation and the residual stress of sputtered AlN films for SAW devices journal March 2004
Stress dependence of reactively sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on sputtering parameters
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Raman spectroscopy of GaN, AlGaN and AlN for process and growth monitoring/control journal January 2001

Cited By (1)

Amorphous Silicon Self‐Rolling Micro Electromechanical Systems: From Residual Stress Control to Complex 3D Structures journal August 2019

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