Scandium stabilized zirconium thin films formation by e-beam technique

Abstract

Scandium stabilized zirconium (10ScSZ) thin ceramic films were deposited by e-beam evaporation of (ZrO2)0.90(Sc2O3)0.10 micro powder (particle size 0.5÷0.7μm). The influence of deposition rate on formed thin films microstructure and electrical properties was studied. 10ScSZ thin films were deposited on two types of different substrates: optical quartz (SiO2) and Alloy-600 (Fe–Ni–Cr) substrates. Deposition rate was changed from 2 to 16Å/s to test its influence on thin film formation and its properties.The microstructure of formed 10ScSZ thin ceramic films was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrical parameters of formed thin ceramics were investigated in the frequency range from 0.1Hz to 1.0MHz (in temperature range from 473 to 873K). The ionic conductivity of the deposited electrolyte 10ScSZ thin films was determined by impedance spectroscopy.It was determined that the deposition rate (in range from 2 to 16Å/s) has influence on crystallite size. It increases by increasing the deposition rate from 18.4 to 26.9nm. The XRD measurements show that the formed 10ScSZ thin films do not repeat the crystallographic phase of the initial evaporated powder material—it is changes from rhombohedra (initial powder) to cubic (the formed thin films).