Deposition and characterization of silicon dioxide thin films deposited by mercury-arc-source driven photon-activated chemical-vapor deposition

Abstract

Silicon dioxide thin films have been grown by the technique of photochemical-vapor deposition. Deposition was performed using direct dissociation of oxygen by an ultraviolet arc lamp in the presence of silane. The films were deposited for a temperature range of 150 and 350 °C. Deposition rates peaked at a total pressure of 2 Torr, with a rate of 23 nm/min and 68 nm/min at 150 °C and 250 °C, respectively. Film stress is compressive with 1.04±0.14×109 dynes/cm2. Dielectric constant (εox) and breakdown voltage (VB) were measured as 3.6 and 3.2 MV/cm, respectively. Etch rate in a room temperature 1:5 buffered hydrofluoric acid:deionized water solution was below 50 Å/s. The films have promise for application in integrated circuit devices.