Structural, electrical, and mechanical properties of nc-TiC/a-SiC nanocomposite thin films

• We have synthesized Ti–Si–C nanocomposite thin films by dc magnetron sputtering from a Ti3SiC2 compound target in an Ar discharge on Si(100), Al2O3(0001), and Al substrates at temperatures from room temperature to 300  °C. Electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the films consisted of nanocrystalline (nc-) TiC and amorphous (a-) SiC, with the possible presence of a small amount of noncarbidic C. The growth mode was columnar, yielding a nodular film-surface morphology. Mechanically, the films exhibited a remarkable ductile behavior. Their nanoindentation hardness and E-modulus values were 20 and 290  GPa, respectively. The electrical resistivity was 330  µ  cm for optimal Ar pressure (4  mTorr) and substrate temperature (300  °C). The resulting nc-TiC/a-SiC films performed well as electrical contact material. These films' electrical-contact resistance against Ag was remarkably low, 6  µ at a contact force of 800  N compared to 3.2  µ for Ag against Ag. The chemical stability of the nc-TiC/a-SiC films was excellent, as shown by a Battelle flowing mixed corrosive-gas test, with no N, Cl, or S contaminants entering the bulk of the films.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Oorganisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Inorganic Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

titanium compounds

silicon compounds

wide band gap semiconductors

nanocomposites

amorphous semiconductors

thin films

sputter deposition

electron microscopy

X-ray diffraction

X-ray photoelectron spectra

surface morphology

ductility

indentation

hardness

electrical resistivity

electrical contacts

contact resistance

TECHNOLOGY

TEKNIKVETENSKAP

Inorganic chemistry

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)