High-rate deposition and mechanical properties of SiOx film at low temperature by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition with the dual frequencies ultra high frequency and high frequency

A high efficiency, high-rate deposition process was developed for silicon oxide films using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) with an additional ultra high frequency (UHF) power with high frequency (HF) bias. The effect of the UHF input power with HF bias on the anti-scratch properties of the silicon oxide films was examined. The hybrid plasma process was also examined by advanced plasma source. Dissociation of the octamethylycyclodisiloxane (OMCTS) precursor was controlled by the plasma processing parameters. SiOx films were deposited on polycarbonate substrates by PECVD using OMCTS and oxygen carrier gas. The rate of SiOx film deposition increased with increasing input energy. The plasma was analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy. The deposition rate was characterized using an alpha-step. The mechanical properties of the coatings were examined using a nano-indenter and pencil hardness measurements. The chemical properties of the coatings were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The deposition rate of the SiOx films was controlled by the dissociation of OMCTS using the appropriate intensity of excited neutrals, ionized atoms and input UHF input power with HF bias at room temperature. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.