Investigation of optical and compositional properties of thin SiN sub(x:H films with an enhanced growth rate by high frequency PECVD method)

Hydrogenated thin silicon nitride (SiN sub(x:H) films were deposited by high frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition techniques at various NH) sub(3) and SiH sub(4 gas flow ratios [R = NH) sub(3)/(SiH sub(4 + NH) sub(3))], where the flow rate of NH sub(3 was varied by keeping the constant flow (150 sccm) of SiH) sub(4). The deposition rate of the films was found to be 7.1, 7.3, 9 and 11 Aa/s for the variation of R as 0.5, 0.67, 0.75 and 0.83, respectively. The films were optically and compositionally characterized by reflectance, photoluminescence, infrared absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The films were amorphous in nature and the refractive indices of the films were varied between 2.46 and 1.90 by changing the gas flow ratio during the deposition. The PL peak energy was increased and the linear band tails become broad with the increase in R. The incorporation of nitrogen takes place with the increase in R.