Thin metal films on weakly-interacting substrates : Nanoscale growth dynamics, stress generation, and morphology manipulation

Abstract

Vapor-based growth of thin metal films with controlled morphology on weaklyinteracting substrates (WIS), including oxides and van der Waals materials, is essential for the fabrication of multifunctional metal contacts in a wide array of optoelectronic devices. Achieving this entails a great challenge, since weak film/substrate interactions yield a pronounced and uncontrolled 3D morphology. Moreover, the far-from-equilibrium nature of vapor-based film growth often leads to generation of mechanical stress, which may further compromise device reliability and functionality. The objectives of this thesis are related to metal film growth on WIS and seek to: (i) contribute to the understanding of atomic-scale processes that control film morphological evolution; (ii) elucidate the dynamic competition between nanoscale processes that govern film stress generation and evolution; and (iii) develop methodologies for manipulating and controlling nanoscale film morphology between 2D and 3D. Investigations focus on magnetron sputter-deposited Ag and Cu films on SiO2 and amorphous carbon (a-C) substrates. Research is conducted by strategically combining of in situ and real-time film growth monitoring, ex situ chemical and (micro)-structural analysis, optical modelling, and deterministic growth simulations. Preface The present dissertation is the result of my doctoral studies carried out between 2016 and 2020 in the Physics and Properties of Nanostructures (PPNa) group at the