Deposition rate controls nucleation and growth during amorphous/nanocrystalline competition in sputtered Zr-Cr thin films

Dual-phase Zr-based thin films synthesized by magnetron co-sputtering and showing competitive growth between amorphous and crystalline phases have been reported recently. In such films, the amorphous phase grows as columns, while the crystalline phase grows as separated cone-shaped crystalline regio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of alloys and compounds 2023-03, Vol.936, p.168258, Article 168258
Main Authors: Liebgott, Q., Borroto, A., Fernández-Gutiérrez, Z., Bruyère, S., Mücklich, F., Horwat, D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Competitive growth
Engineering Sciences
Growth
Materials
Nucleation
Physics
Plasma Physics
Plasmas
Thin films
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Summary:Dual-phase Zr-based thin films synthesized by magnetron co-sputtering and showing competitive growth between amorphous and crystalline phases have been reported recently. In such films, the amorphous phase grows as columns, while the crystalline phase grows as separated cone-shaped crystalline regions made of smaller crystallites. In this paper, we investigate this phenomenon and propose a model for the development of the crystalline regions during thin film growth. We evidence using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), that this competitive self-separation also exists in co-sputtered Zr-Cr thin films with Cr contents of ∼84–86 at%, corresponding to the transition between the amorphous and crystalline compositions, and in the Zr-V system. Then, to assess the sturdiness of this phenomenon, its existence and geometrical characteristics are evaluated when varying the film composition and the deposition rate. The variation of geometrical features, such as the crystalline cone angle, the size and density of crystallites, is discussed. Is it shown that a variation in the deposition rate changes the nucleation and growth kinetics of the crystallites. The surface coverage by the crystalline phase at a given thickness is also calculated for each deposition rate. Moreover, comparison is made between Zr-Cr, Zr-V, Zr-Mo and Zr-W dual-phase thin films to compare their nucleation and growth kinetics. •Amorphous/Crystalline competitive growth has been found in Zr-Cr and Zr-V.•Deposition rate is a new lever to control microstructure and surface morphology.•Nucleation and growth dynamics are controlled by the deposition rate.•Zr-Cr, Zr-V, Zr-W and Zr-Mo show different nucleation and growth dynamics.
ISSN:0925-8388
1873-4669
DOI:10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.168258