Thin films - Project approx. 15page double spaced paper Good starting points: 1. Ohring 2. Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology 3. Thin Solid Films journal 4. Wikipedia Possible topic ideas...

THIN FILM TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS

A Report on
Thin film technology and its Applications
Submitted by
Thin film application and its applications

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Table of Content
1. Introduction……………………………………………..3
2. Thin film technology…………………………………….3
3. Examination of optical coating………………………....6
4. Friction and wearing coating……………………………9
5. Quantum well…………………………………………….9
6. Photovoltaic cell………………………………………...10
7. Giant magneto resistance devices………………….….11
8. Conclusion………………………………………………12
Thin film application and its applications

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1. Introduction
Advance technology and physics have developed this phenomenon of thin film technology. Thin
film technology refers to a layer of materials starting from fractions of a nanometer which are
also known as monolayer heading till several micrometers of thickness. This science plays an
important role in the integrated passive devices (IPD). It is based on three pillars: fa
ication,
characterization and applications. This technology was developed to fulfill the needs of IC
world. Some of the important fields where thin film technology is used are microelectronics,
optical communication, coatings, conservation and generation of energy and telecommunication.
2. Thin film technology and its applications
With a growth rate of 17.7%, thin film industry has reached till $18.5 million dollar by 2010.
This number is a sign of good Average annual growth rate (AAGR). The Chemical industry too
accounts more than 72% of market captured by plating chemicals. Raw materials required for
physical processes were reported a $ 2 Billion market and is expanding too. (
c, 2010).The
most common application of thin films is the mi
or. In order to form a reflective index there is a
thin film sheet applied to it. Very thin films of nanometer thickness are more comely used for
two way mi
ors. Generally the performance of optical coating /AR coatings is judged by its
efractive indices and the multi layer coats. In case of computer memory, there are 2 types in
which thin film optical coating is done i.e. fe
omagnetic and fe
oelectric. Thin film technology
today is also used in making medicines, ceramics and even renewable batteries like solar cells.
The Process
From the figure we can understand the process in a very simpler manner. The gas/solid/liquid is
first exposed to the metal which is to de coated and bombarded with laser energy. Due to this
action there is decomposition of atoms, molecules etc from the gases and starts depositing on the
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surface of metal. The thin film deposition is an act of depositing thin film of coating material
onto the bed of to be coated metal.
Fig 1 (sciencedirect)
The thin film deposition is an act of depositing thin film of coating material onto the bed of to be
coated metal. The deposition technique controls the thickness of the coating within nanometers.
The deposition technique is majorly divided into 2 types physical and chemical decomposition.
Physical decomposition requires thermal evaporators, electron beam evaporator, molecule beam
epitaxy,sputtering, pulsed laser depoistion, cathodic arc deposition, Electrohydrodyanamic
deposition. Whereas in case of chemical decomposition the process is as follows:
Application
Thin film technology related to integrated passive devices (IPDs) is picking up market since
2009. IPD was originally devised to replace heavy passive components. Now it is also used for
RF, high
ightness LED silicon sub mounts and mixing devices. Basically it is finding its place
Plating
Chemical
solution
deposition
spin
coating
chemical
vapor
deposition
Plasma
enhanced
CVD
Atomic
layer
deposition
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wherever size of the equipment is required to be reduced. Figure below shows the development
process.
Fig 2 (sciencedirect)
Thin film technology related to integrated passive devices (IPDs) is picking up market since
2009. IPD was originally devised to replace heavy passive components. Now it is also used for
RF, high
ightness LED silicon sub mounts and mixing devices. Basically it is finding its place
wherever size of the equipment is required to be reduced. Figure below shows the development
process. All printed memory platform is apt for its
standalone applications in toys and online enabled
cards and games. Thin film also integrates with logic,
sensors, batteries and display for making RFID tags.
Other areas were thin film technology is used are
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