Effect of substrate composition on atomic layer deposition using self-assembled monolayers as blocking layers
The authors have examined the effect of two molecules that form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the subsequent growth of TaN{sub x} by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on two substrate surfaces, SiO{sub 2} and Cu. The SAMs that the authors have investigated include two vapor phase deposited, fluorinated alkyl silanes: Cl{sub 3}Si(CH{sub 2}){sub 2}(CF{sub 2}){sub 5}CF{sub 3} (FOTS) and (C{sub 2}H{sub 5}O){sub 3}Si(CH{sub 2}){sub 2}(CF{sub 2}){sub 7}CF{sub 3} (HDFTEOS). Both the SAMs themselves and the TaN{sub x} thin films, grown using Ta[N(CH{sub 3}){sub 2}]{sub 5} and NH{sub 3}, were analyzed ex situ using contact angle, spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and low energy ion-scattering spectroscopy (LEISS). First, the authors find that both SAMs on SiO{sub 2} are nominally stable at T{sub s} ∼ 300 °C, the substrate temperature used for ALD, while on Cu, the authors find that HDFTEOS thermally desorbs, while FOTS is retained on the surface. The latter result reflects the difference in the head groups of these two molecules. The authors find that both SAMs strongly attenuate the ALD growth of TaN{sub x} on SiO{sub 2}, by about a factor of 10, while on Cu, the SAMs have no effect on ALD growth. Results from LEISS and XPS are decisive in determining the nature of the mechanism of growth of TaN{sub x} on all surfaces. Growth on SiO{sub 2} is 2D and approximately layer-by-layer, while on the surfaces terminated by the SAMs, it nucleates at defect sites, is islanded, and is 3D. In the latter case, our results support growth of the TaN{sub x} thin film over the SAM, with a considerable delay in formation of a continuous thin film. Growth on Cu, with or without the SAMs, is also 3D and islanded, and there is also a delay in the formation of a continuous thin film as compared to growth on SiO{sub 2}. These results highlight the power of coupling measurements from both LEISS and XPS in examinations of ultrathin films formed by ALD.
- OSTI ID:
- 22489741
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, Vacuum, Surfaces and Films, Vol. 34, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2015 American Vacuum Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0734-2101
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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