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Dielectric Layer over Au

I have 500 µm diameter Au surface patterned using photolithography technique. I need to put down a dielectric layer to protect that gold for the remaining fabrication. I am seeing delamination of PECVD oxide (1 um) from the Au surface with a thin layer of Ti as an adhesion problem. I was wondering if there is a way to eliminate this adhesion issue.

Chris
- Ithaca, New York
2001

Your problem may be more of stress in the oxide film than adhesion itself. Deposit a series of thinner films and see if peeling goes away. If it does, see if increase in PECVD process pressure could reduce the stress. I don't recall all the details but that may work. If stress is not the problem, metal surface preparation needs to be looked into.

Mandar Sunthankar
- Fort Collins, Colorado
2001