DEGRADATION OF Zn$_3$$N_2$ FILMS PREPARED BY REACTIVE RF MAGNETRON SPUTTERING

DEGRADATION OF Zn$_3$$N_2$ FILMS PREPARED BY REACTIVE RF MAGNETRON SPUTTERING

Degradation of $Zn_3N_2$ films is studied by using several analytical techniques. Polycrystalline $Zn_3N_2$ films prepared by reactie rf magnetron sputtering are kept in the air. Electrical and optical properties are measured by using van der Pauw technique and double-beam spectrometry. Structure and chemical bonding states are studied by X-ray diffraction(XRD), Fourier transfer infrared ray spectroscopy(FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron specroscopy (XPS). Significant differences are observed in optical properties between the degraded film and the ZnO film. XRD analysis reveals that the degraded film contains very small ZnO grains because very weak and broad ZnO peaks are observed. XPS and FT-IR measurements reveal the formation of $Zn(OH)_2$ in the degraded film. The existence of N-H bonds in degraded films is exhibited from the N 1s spectra. $Zn_3N_2$ change into the mixture of ZnO, $Zn(OH)_2$ and an ammonium salt.