Influence of the oxygen plasma parameters on the atomic layer deposition of titanium dioxide

The influence of the oxygen plasma parameters on the morphology and optical properties of TiO2 thin films has been extensively analyzed in plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) processes. Crystalline aggregates with the anatase phase have been identified on the film surface at a low deposition temperature (down to 70 °C) under specific plasma conditions. Up to 70% surface coverage by anatase crystallites is obtained at low oxygen gas flow rates and high plasma power. The hillocks abundance is correlated with high ion flux and electron density and with the resulting enhanced ion bombardment of the surface. Altering the plasma conditions is an important parameter besides temperature to control the morphology of the titania film for specific applications such as photocatalysis or functional optical coatings. Specifically, photocatalytic titania coatings on polymer substrates could benefit of such low temperature PEALD processes with abundant anatase crystallites; whereas optical coatings require smooth, high refractive index titania as obtained with low plasma power and high oxygen flow rate.