EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE SURFACE STRUCTURE AND DEPOSITION CONDITIONS ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF TIN DIOXIDE THIN FILMS SYNTHESIZED BY FEMTOSECOND PULSED LASER DEPOSITION

摘要

Tin oxide films were deposited on sapphire and silicon substrates using reactive femtosecond pulsed laser deposition at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 700°C. The effect of electrical discharge and background oxygen pressure on the thin film microstructure was studied. The microstructure of the films was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. SnO_2 films fabricated consist of different textures in microstructures that depend on the deposition conditions and substrate surface structures. For instance, films deposited on the (1012) sapphire (R-cut) are amorphous if deposited at room temperature, whereas films deposited at 700°C were epitaxial, single crystalline. Discharge and oxygen pressure had a strong effect on the ion/neutral ratio of the ablated plasma plume of SnO_2.