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Nucleation thin film processing

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

In this study, the stability of a very thin film at the initial stage of deposition was investigated using perturbation theory. It is assumed that the critical wave length of perturbation on a continuous thin film corresponds to the nuclei diameter and we also propose that the surface tension of a thin film changes with the film thickness. With these assumptions, it can be shown that the nucleus diameter grows linearly with deposition time. It is interesting to note that the resulting equation is similar to the well-known contact angle equation. To confirm the result of the analysis, a vacuum deposition experiment was conducted. Copper nuclei on the substrate were observed using a transmission electron microscope(TEM) and diameters of island nuclei were measured. The results clearly show that the effective nuclei diameter grows linearly with deposition time. The good agreement between analysis and the experiment suggests the validity of this analysis.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTransport Phenomena in Materials Processing and Manufacturing
EditorsA.S. Lavine, U. Chandra, M.M. Chen, C.T. Crowe, U. Fritsching, al et al
Pages137-142
Number of pages6
Publication statusPublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 1996 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition - Atlanta, GA, USA
Duration: Nov 17 1996Nov 22 1996

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers, Heat Transfer Division, (Publication) HTD
Volume336
ISSN (Print)0272-5673

Conference

ConferenceProceedings of the 1996 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
CityAtlanta, GA, USA
Period11/17/9611/22/96

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

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