Grazing-incidence small angle x-ray scattering studies of phase separation in hafnium silicate films

Grazing-incidence small-angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to investigate phase separation in hafnium silicate films after rapid thermal annealing between 700 and 1000 degreesC. 4-nm-thick Hf-silicate films with 80 and 40 mol % HfO(2), respectively, were prepared by metalorganic vapor deposition. Films of the two compositions showed distinctly different phase-separated microstructures, consistent with two limiting cases of microstructural evolution: nucleation/growth and spinodal decomposition. Films with 40 mol % HfO(2) phase separated in the amorphous by spinodal decomposition and exhibited a characteristic wavelength in the plane of the film. Decomposition with a wavelength of similar to3 nm could be detected at 800 degreesC. At 1000 degreesC the films rapidly demixed with a wavelength of 5 nm. In contrast, films with 80 mol % HfO(2) phase separated by nucleation and growth of crystallites, and showed a more random microstructure. The factors determining specific film morphologies and phase separation kinetics are discussed. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.