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Thin-Film Aerogel Porosity and Stiffness Characterized by Surface Acoustic Wave Spectroscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

C.M. Flannery
Affiliation:
Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronik, Hausvogteiplatz 5-7, D-10117 Berlin, [email protected]
C. Murray
Affiliation:
Centre of Microtechnologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09107 Chemnitz, Germany
M.R. Baklanov
Affiliation:
IMEC, Leuven, Belgium
I. Streiter
Affiliation:
Centre of Microtechnologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09107 Chemnitz, Germany
S.E. Schulz
Affiliation:
Centre of Microtechnologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09107 Chemnitz, Germany
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Abstract

Density/porosity and stiffness are the most critical parameters determining properties of porous films, however they are difficult to measure. Here we report characterization of density/porosity and Young's modulus values of a range of nanoporous silica aerogel films via dispersion of laser-generated wideband surface acoustic waves. Results are compared to dielectric constant, Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS), Ellipsometric Porosimetry (EP) and Nanoindentation (NI). RBS density correlates well to SAW. EP and NI also show a correlation, however the absolute values do not match. Low Young's modulus values show that the film stiffness is drastically reduced with increasing porosity. The technique is rapid, nondestructive and relatively inexpensive, and yields absolute values of nanoporous aerogel elastic properties which are useful for process control and are difficult to access with other techniques.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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References

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