While trying to co-sputtered Cu and CZTS in order to make czts film (on SLG substrate) more Cu-rich using Rf magnetron sputtering, after deposition of around 2 hours, resulted patterned cracked film as shown in the attached file.
It would be very nice, if someone could scientific reasonable explanation of this phenomenon.
N.B. Substrate temperature was 350 degree centigrade.
It is likely the substrate that is not clean throughly. Some contaminants cause the film crystallized.
hey Ashoke,
Could the cracks results due to differences in the thermal expansion coefficient? Did you try to change the procedure for cooling down the sample (recommondation would be to do it very slow)? I have observed such cracks for thin organic layers also on SLG. Maybe there is a different reason, but changing the thermal treatment of the sample could help.
Dear Ashoke,
I saw no cracks in the film deposited over the SLG substrate.What i see is the growing of a patterned trees like crystal structure similar to the ice crystals on glass. This is due to the higher substrate temperature and the thick deposited film in a long deposition time. In order to prevent crystallization you have to lower the temperature and shorted the deposition time.
Best wishes
Abdelhalim Zekry Can you suggest me some articles regarding "lower temperature and short deposition time to prevent crystallization"? We have got a similar type of cracked patter in thin films a few days after deposition.
Tabassum,
Could you tell how is the substrate temperature and how the pattern develops it self with time. How do you cool the substrate after the deposition. How far is your composition homogeneous? What is the color of the pattern?
You can refer to any book of thin film growth.
Best wishes
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