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ANALYSIS OF UNIAXIALLY ORIENTED FILM BY WIDE-RANGE RSM INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Reciprocal space mapping (RSM) is an XRD technique used to evaluate the lattice spacing and orientation distribution of thin film materials, especially for epitaxial films. The TDI (time delay integration) scan mode of a 2-dimensional X-ray detector can obtain wide-range RSM in a relatively short time. The combination of reciprocal lattice simulation with uniaxial orientation, a new function of SmartLab Studio II, can easily evaluate film orientation.

Measurements and Results

Fig. 1 shows a schematic of wide-range RSM. In 2θ/θ data collected with the TDI scan mode of a 2-dimensional detector, diffraction signals from the lattice planes that are parallel to the sample surface or are slightly tilted are detected. By merging scan data from multiple χ-axis positions and converting the coordinates, a wide-range RSM is obtained.
Fig. 2 shows the results of the wide-range RSM measurement of a Ti thin film (thickness: about 90 nm) deposited on a Si 100 substrate. The measurement time was approximately 20 minutes each. The arrangement of diffraction spots of Si, a single crystal, changed with the incident X-ray direction. On the other hand, the arrangement of the diffraction spots of titanium (marked with ○ in fig. 2) did not change with the incident X-ray direction. Since each coordinate of titanium diffraction spots showed good agreement with a simulation (fig. 3), it suggests that the Ti film had 00l uniaxial orientation with respect to the stacking direction.

Analysis of uniaxially oriented film

Recommended equipment and software
► Automated multipurpose X-ray diffractometer SmartLab ; Hybrid pixel-array multidimensional detector HyPix-3000
► Automated multipurpose X-ray diffractometer SmartLab SE + Hybrid pixel-array multidimensional detector HyPix-400
► χφ attachment, χφZ attachment base
► Integrated X-ray analysis software SmartLab Studio II (HRXRD plugin)

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