Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A, Vol.19, No.4, 1577-1581, 2001
Supermagnetron plasma chemical vapor deposition and qualitative analysis of electrically conductive diamond-like amorphous carbon films
Using the i-C4H10/N-2 supermagnetron plasma chemical vapor deposition method, electrically conductive diamond-like amorphous carbon (DAC) films with nitrogen (DAC:N) were formed on Si and SiO2 wafers. Resistivity and hardness were measured as a function of N-2 concentration, rf power, total gas pressure, and wafer stage temperature. With an increase in the N-2 concentration (up to 70%). rf power, and wafer stage temperature, DAC:N film resistivity decreased. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements revealed that an increase in electrical conductivity was attributed to the creation of C-N, C dropN, and N-H bonds in DAC:N films. By preheating the wafers using H-2-plasma cleaning, the resistivity of the DAC:N film decreased with an increase in H-2-plasma rf power. Using a preheated wafer, the lowest resistivity of 0.034 fl cm was obtained at an N, concentration of 65% and upper- and lower-electrode rf powers of 1 kW/l kW.