Synthesis and characterization of DC magnetron sputtered ZnO thin films under high working pressures

  • M. Hezam*
  • , N. Tabet
  • , A. Mekki
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

ZnO thin films were deposited on glass substrates using direct current (dc) magnetron sputtering under high working pressures. A pure zinc target was used, and sputtering was carried out in an oxygen atmosphere. The working pressure was varied between 50 and 800 mTorr. XRD characterization showed that for a window of working pressures between 300 and 500 mTorr, the deposited films were polycrystalline, with strong preferential orientation of grains along the c-axis. The film deposited at 400 mTorr had the highest (002) peak with the largest estimated grain size. Outside this window, the crystallinity and c-orientation of grains are lost. The microstructure of the films was investigated by Atomic Force microscopy (AFM). Optical transparency of the films was about 85%. The films produced were highly resistive, which might provide new alternatives for the synthesis of ZnO thin films aimed for SAW devices.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e161-e164
JournalThin Solid Films
Volume518
Issue number24 SUPPL.
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) for its support. This work was supported by KFUPM , Project INT-2006/299 . The authors also thank Dr. X.N. Xie, NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSSI) , National university of Singapore for carrying out the AFM image.

Keywords

  • Grain size
  • Magnetron sputtering
  • Working pressure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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