TY - JOUR
T1 - Solid-source metal-organic MBE for elemental Ir and Ru films
AU - Nair, Sreejith
AU - Noordhoek, Kyle
AU - Lee, Dooyong
AU - Bartel, Christopher J.
AU - Jalan, Bharat
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Author(s).
PY - 2023/12/1
Y1 - 2023/12/1
N2 - Thin films of elemental metals play a very important role in modern electronic nano-devices as conduction pathways, spacer layers, spin-current generators/detectors, and many other important functionalities. In this work, by exploiting the chemistry of solid metal-organic source precursors, we demonstrate the molecular beam epitaxy synthesis of elemental Ir and Ru metal thin films. The synthesis of these metals is enabled by thermodynamic and kinetic selection of the metal phase as the metal-organic precursor decomposes on the substrate surface. Film growth under different conditions was studied using a combination of in situ and ex situ structural and compositional characterization techniques. The critical role of substrate temperature, oxygen reactivity, and precursor flux in tuning film composition and quality is discussed in the context of precursor adsorption, decomposition, and crystal growth. Computed thermodynamics quantifies the driving force for metal or oxide formation as a function of synthesis conditions and changes in chemical potential. These results indicate that bulk thermodynamics are a plausible origin for the formation of Ir metal at low temperatures, while Ru metal formation is likely mediated by kinetics.
AB - Thin films of elemental metals play a very important role in modern electronic nano-devices as conduction pathways, spacer layers, spin-current generators/detectors, and many other important functionalities. In this work, by exploiting the chemistry of solid metal-organic source precursors, we demonstrate the molecular beam epitaxy synthesis of elemental Ir and Ru metal thin films. The synthesis of these metals is enabled by thermodynamic and kinetic selection of the metal phase as the metal-organic precursor decomposes on the substrate surface. Film growth under different conditions was studied using a combination of in situ and ex situ structural and compositional characterization techniques. The critical role of substrate temperature, oxygen reactivity, and precursor flux in tuning film composition and quality is discussed in the context of precursor adsorption, decomposition, and crystal growth. Computed thermodynamics quantifies the driving force for metal or oxide formation as a function of synthesis conditions and changes in chemical potential. These results indicate that bulk thermodynamics are a plausible origin for the formation of Ir metal at low temperatures, while Ru metal formation is likely mediated by kinetics.
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U2 - 10.1116/6.0002955
DO - 10.1116/6.0002955
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85173480198
SN - 0734-2101
VL - 41
JO - Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces and Films
JF - Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces and Films
IS - 6
M1 - 062701
ER -