Structural transformations in reactively sputtered alumina films

Thin films of amorphous alumina of thickness ∼350 nm were prepared on silicon wafer by DC cathode reactive sputtering. The effects of thermal annealing on the structural properties were investigated at annealing temperatures of 600°C, 800°C, 1100°C and 1220°C. X-ray diffraction showed that crystallization starts at 800°C and produces δ and θ alumina phases, the latter phase grows with heat treatment and the film was predominantly δ-phase with small amount of a-phase after annealing at 1220°C. AFM studies found that the surface of thin films smoothened upon crystallization.