Self-reducing precursors for aluminium metal thin films: evaluation of stable aluminium hydrides for vapor phase aluminium deposition

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Niklas Huster - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Rita Mullins - , University College Cork (Author)
  • Michael Nolan - , University College Cork (Author)
  • Anjana Devi - , Chair of Materials Chemistry (gB/IFW), Ruhr University Bochum, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (Author)

Abstract

Thin films of Al as interconnect materials and those of AlN as wide bandgap semiconductor and piezoelectric material are of great interest for microelectronic applications. For the fabrication of these thin films via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) based routes, the available precursor library is rather limited, mostly comprising aluminium alkyls, chlorides, and few small amine-stabilized aluminium hydrides. Herein, we focused on rational precursor development for Al, their characterization and comparison to existing precursors comprising stabilized aluminium hydrides. We present and compare a series of potentially new and reported aluminium hydride precursors divided into three main groups with respect to their stabilization motive, and their systematic structural variation to evaluate the physicochemical properties. All compounds were comprehensively characterized by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), electron-impact ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Promising representatives were further evaluated as potential single source precursors for aluminium metal formation in proof-of-concept experiments. Structure and reaction enthalpies with NH3 or H2 as co-reactants were calculated via first principles density functional theory simulations and show the great potential as atomic layer deposition (ALD) precursors for Al and AlN thin films.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7711-7720
Number of pages10
JournalDalton transactions
Volume53
Issue number18
Publication statusPublished - 11 Apr 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38619887

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas