Structure of vacuum-deposited Zn3P2 films

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Abstract
The structure of polycrystalline Zn3P2 films has been studied for 1- to 2-μm-thick vacuum-deposited films on glass substrates. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques have been used to obtain a detailed, quantitative analysis of the film structure. The initial growth consists of small (≤ 10 nm), randomly oriented grains. As the film thickness increases, the growth of crystallites with the {220} planes oriented approximately parallel to the substrate is favoured, and a columnar structure develops along with a highly preferred orientation. This structure has been observed directly by transmission electron microscopy of thin cross sections of the films. The size of the grains at the free surface increases with the film thickness, reaching approximately 200–300 nm when the film is 1 μm thick. The effects of substrate temperature and low-energy (0.5–2 keV) electron bombardment of the film during growth have also been studied. Neither substrate temperature nor electron bombardment appear to have a major effect on the film structure. The primary effect of electron bombardment appears to be the creation of preferred nucleation sites on the substrate.

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