Conformal Zn-Benzene Dithiol Thin Films for Temperature-Sensitive Electronics Grown via Industry-Feasible Atomic/Molecular Layer Deposition Technique

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Anish Philip - , Aalto University, Chipmetrics Ltd (Author)
  • Topias Jussila - , Aalto University (Author)
  • Jorit Obenlüneschloß - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • David Zanders - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Florian Preischel - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Jussi Kinnunen - , Chipmetrics Ltd (Author)
  • Anjana Devi - , Chair of Materials Chemistry (gB/IFW), Ruhr University Bochum, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Maarit Karppinen - , Aalto University (Author)

Abstract

The atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD/MLD) technique combining both inorganic and organic precursors is strongly emerging as a unique tool to design exciting new functional metal-organic thin-film materials. Here, this method is demonstrated to work even at low deposition temperatures and can produce highly stable and conformal thin films, fulfilling the indispensable prerequisites of today's 3D microelectronics and other potential industrial applications. This new ALD/MLD process is developed for Zn-organic thin films grown from non-pyrophoric bis-3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl zinc [Zn(DMP)2] and 1,4-benzene dithiol (BDT) precursors. This process yields air-stable Zn-BDT films with appreciably high growth per cycle (GPC) of 4.5 Å at 60 °C. The Zn/S ratio is determined at 0.5 with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), in line with the anticipated (Zn─S─C6H6─S─)n bonding scheme. The high degree of conformality is shown using lateral high-aspect-ratio (LHAR) test substrates; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the film penetration depth (PD) into the LHAR structure with cavity height of 500 nm is over 200 µm (i.e., aspect-ratio of 400). It is anticipated that the electrically insulating metal-organic Zn-BDT thin films grown via the solvent-free ALD/MLD technique, can be excellent barrier layers for temperature-sensitive and flexible electronic devices.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2402608
JournalSmall
Volume20
Issue number40
Publication statusPublished - 3 Oct 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38853133

Keywords

Keywords

  • air-stability, atomic/molecular layer deposition, conformality, low-temperature deposition, metal-organic thin film