The structural, chemical and compositional nature of amorphous silicon carbide films

Abstract

A range of amorphous hydrogenated silicon-carbide films have been produced using the plasma-enhanced chemical-vapour deposition technique with silane and methane diluted in hydrogen as the parent molecules. The air-exposed and sputter-cleaned surfaces of these films have been investigated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary-ion mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy and reflection-electron diffraction. The structural and chemical nature of the films has been determined as a function of the methane: silane ratio by a combination of the above techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy have been used to determine the carbon content of the films also as a function of the methane: silane ratio.