Aluminum Nitride Thin Films - Deposition for Fabrication, Characterization and Fabrication of Surface Acoustic Wave Devices

Aluminum Nitride (AlN) thin films can be used for many device applications; for example, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) applications, and packaging applications. In this work, AlN is the critical layer in the fabrication process. One challenge is reliable deposition over wafer size substrates. The method of interest for deposition is pulsed DC sputtering. The (002) plane is the desired plane for its piezoelectric properties. The surface roughness of the deposited AlN is low and adheres well to the substrate. An AlN layer was deposited on a UNCD/Si substrate. Al was deposited on the AlN layer to form the IDTs (interdigital transducers) for SAW devices. SAW devices were fabricated on quartz - ST substrate. To verify the SAW devices work, they were tested using a network analyzer. This book discusses these results and parameters for AlN film deposition, film properties and implications for devices. This book would be beneficial for professionals, scientists, engineers, and graduate students in science and engineering working in the areas of wide bandgap semi-conductors, nitrides and piezoelectric materials and various acoustic wave devices.