• HiPIMS放电中金属离子价态分布的调控规律及其对二元氮化物薄膜性能的影响机制

    Regulation of Metal Ion Charge State Distribution in HiPIMS Discharge and Its Mechanism on the Properties of Binary Nitride Films

    • 针对高功率脉冲磁控溅射(HiPIMS)技术工艺调控依赖宏观参数试错、内在机理模糊的问题,以等离子体中金属离子浓度比值(M+/M2+)为核心调控参数,采用等离子体取样质谱仪(PSM)原位诊断 Cr-Al、Ti-Al、Al-Si二元合金靶HiPIMS放电的等离子体离子态,研究电源参数对M+/M2+的调控规律。结合薄膜表征建立“电源参数-等离子体离子状态-薄膜微观结构-宏观性能”的定量关联,并识别二元体系中的主控元素。结果表明:电源功率、频率、占空比可实现M+/M2+的连续调控,降低该比值可获得高能离子轰击效应,抑制柱状晶生长、促进薄膜致密化;二元合金体系中存在低第二电离能元素主导规律,Cr、Ti 分别为Cr-Al、Ti-Al体系的主控元素,其M+/M2+决定薄膜结构与性能;AlSiN薄膜因Si电离能高,离子态稳定性好,性能受化学作用与Si3N4相析出的影响显著。本研究为HiPIMS制备高性能氮化物薄膜提供了基于等离子体内部状态的精准调控范式,推动技术从经验试错向机理驱动的智能调控发展。

       

      Abstract: To address the issues of process control in high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) technology relying on macroscopic parameter trial and error and the ambiguity of the underlying mechanisms, this study takes the ratio of metal ion concentrations in the plasma (M+/M2+) as the core control parameter. A plasma sampling mass spectrometer (PSM) is used to in-situ diagnose the plasma ion states of Cr-Al, Ti-Al, and Al-Si binary alloy targets during HiPIMS discharge. The regulation laws of power supply parameters on M+/M2+ are investigated. By combining film characterization, a quantitative correlation between power supply parameters, plasma ion states, film microstructure, and macroscopic properties is established, and the dominant elements in the binary systems are identified. The results show that power, frequency, and duty cycle of the power supply can continuously regulate (M+/M2+). Reducing this ratio can enhance the high-energy ion bombardment effect, suppress columnar crystal growth, and promote film densification. In binary alloy systems, there is a dominant rule of low second ionization energy elements, with Cr and Ti being the dominant elements in the Cr-Al and Ti-Al systems, respectively, and their (M+/M2+) ratio determining the film structure and properties. For AlSiN films, due to the high ionization energy of Si and the good stability of the ion state, the film properties are significantly affected by chemical reactions and the precipitation of the Si3N4 phase. This study provides a precise control paradigm based on the internal state of the plasma for the preparation of high-performance nitride films by HiPIMS, promoting the development of the technology from empirical trial and error to mechanism-driven intelligent control.

       

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