Structural properties and nanoindentation of AlN films by a filtered cathodic vacuum arc at low temperature

Aluminium nitride (AlN) films have been fabricated on Si(100) substrates by an ion-beam-assisted filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique at low temperature. The structural and mechanical properties of the AlN films have been investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, by means of an x-ray diffractometer, visible Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation. The AlN films exhibit a predominant a-axis orientation with hardness as high as 14.5 GPa, which may be suitable for surface acoustic wave devices.