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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Sputtered A1N films developed for piezoelectric resonators are extremely chemically reactive. As-sputtered films react with boiling water resulting in a complete loss of the AIN bond structure. Experiments to determine the effect on chemical stability of annealing the sputtered films at 1000 °C, indicate annealing in an oxidizing gas leads to partial oxidation of AlN. Annealing in an inert gas prevents oxidation but does not protect the films from attack by boiling water. Annealing in a reducing gas followed by annealing in an inert gas renders A1N films stable in boiling water. A1N film structure and composition have been studied via Refractive Index, XRD, SIMS, SEM, AES, XPS and FTIR evaluations.