Characterization of Structural, Optical, Corrosion, and Mechanical Properties of HfO(2) Thin Films Deposited Using Pulsed DC Magnetron Sputtering

Various properties of HfO(2), such as hardness, corrosion, or electrical resistance, depend on the method and the conditions of deposition. In this work, a thorough comparison of scarcely investigated mechanical properties of HfO(2) thin films deposited with different conditions of reactive magnetron sputtering process is presented. Four thin films were sputtered in processes that varied in plasma ignition method (continuous or sequential) and target–substrate distance. The structural characteristics of the HfO(2) thin films were examined using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. Furthermore, the optoelectronic properties were determined based on transmittance and current–voltage characteristics. The mechanical properties of the HfO(2) thin films were determined using nanoindentation and scratch test. In turn, the corrosion properties were determined by analyzing the voltametric curves. The transparent HfO(2) thin films deposited in the continuous process are characterized by better corrosion resistance than the same layer formed in the sequential process, regardless of the target–substrate distance (8 cm or 12 cm). Furthermore, these samples are also characterized by the highest value of Young’s modulus and scratch resistance. The combination of good corrosion and scratch resistance could contribute to the new application of HfO(2) as a corrosion protective material.