Thin film characterization

by eddy current testing technology

Functional thin films on glassfoil and wafer are crucial to many applications and industries. Modern coatings are adapted to meet the growing demand and requirements such as:

  • More efficient layer stacks depending on their functionality (e.g. higher transparency with low resistivity; better emissivity)
  • Increasing of layer homogenity
  • Reductions in material costs through process optimization / control
  • Optimization of process cycle time and machine utilization
  • Adaptation of substrate size and deposition time

In order to achieve these goals, SURAGUS offers inline and offline testing technology.

Application overviews are available for the following industries:

Sheet Resistance

Non-contact sheet resistance measurement and determination of metal layer thickness

Single-point, mapping and inline measurement solutions

Conductivity Mapping

Non-contact measurement of the conductivity of bulk materials

Optical transparency

 

Simultaneous measurement of electrical conductivity and optical transparency 

Anisotropy

Measurement of anisotropic sheet resistance of wire and mesh structures

Measurement of sheet resistance

The sheet resistance of an electrically conductive layer is measured by non-contact eddy current method. 

Measurement of sheet resistance

The sheet resistance of an electrically conductive layer is measured by non-contact eddy current method. 

The sheet resistance, describes the ability of a square layer to conduct a certain current. This characteristic is the most important quality parameter for surface electrodes and is determined during layer deposition or for quality assurance of conductive thin films. The sheet resistance is specified in ohms / sq or OPS, in order to achieve a differentiation for the specific resistance, which is indicate in ohms.

SURAGUS-Schichtwiderstand

Applications of the sheet resistance measurement

Conductive functional layers are used in various industries. Common materials are:

Transparent electrodes Metallic Electrodes
  • TCO (ITO, FTO, AZO, ATO)
  • CNT (carbon-nano-tubes)
  • Metal-nano-wires, meshes, thin metal films in nm ranges
  • Graphene layers
  • Aluminum
  • Molybdenum
  • Zinc
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Copper
  • Titanium
  • Magnesium
  • Alloys

 

 

 

Optimization potentials

Costs

  • More favourable materials and  more advantageous material combinations
  • Larger substrate sizes and continues production
  • Higher machine throughput by higher deposition rates/ growing rates
  • More cost-effective processes: at atmospheric pressures, lower temperatures
  • Optimized material usage and target utilization

Resistance

  • Material variations/ combined layer stacks
  • Additional layer treatment
    • Doping
    • Tempering
    • Annealing
  • Anisotropy according to layout 

SURAGUS provides with the EddyCus TF series quality assurance systems for the determination of the electrical conductivity. Therefore, the non-contact eddy current technology is being used to measure sensitive or encapsulated layers. The testing is automated and can be adapted individually according to customer requirements. 

 

The usage of the systems allows

  • Monitoring of the layer sheet resistance and homogenity
  • Maximization of machine throughput
  • Reduction of material usage (higher target utilisation)
  • Regular controls on incoming and outgoing goods

Overview products sheet resistance measurement

Conductivity mapping and identifications of inhomogenities and cracks of thin films

 

Conductive layers serve in various applications as:

  • Electrical functional layers
  • Mechanical protective layers
  • Chemical functional layers (passivation or activation)
  • Optical layers.

Spatially resolved eddy current testing or eddy current impedance spectroscopy can be used to analyse the homogeneity of resistive and dielectric properties. Additionally, conductivity variations can also be utilized to allocate defects and material or process related information.

Eddy current testing of conductive printed test structures
Eddy current testing of conductive printed test structures
Wafer with thickness variations and cracks
Wafer with thickness variations and cracks

Common applications are detecting layer defects such as:

  • Variations in layer thickness
  • Variations in material composition (content of oxide, impurities, alloy composition)
  • Changes of microstructure and stress states
  • Cracks, fractures, inclusions and impurities
  • Strong delaminations

The eddy current method is particularly sensitive for effects that disrupt the induced current flow laterally.

The use of the systems allows the quality assurance for

  • Material analysis for incoming goods inspection
  • Avoiding consequential costs due to faulty materials or problems in further processing
  • Ensuring the functionality of material as well as the final product
  • Detection of potential material or product failure and  determination of material wearing
     

Product overview conductivity mapping

Measurement of optical transparency and sheet resistance

The optical transparency describes the ability of light of a certain wavelength (typically in the visible region) to penetrate a certain layer, without being reflected, absorbed or scattered. It is measured in% of the intensity of the incident light on the layer.

Another possibility to describe the optical transparency (OT) is the optical density (OD), which can be calculated by using the following formula: OD = -log_10OT

The quality of a transparent electrode, is described by its electrical and optical properties. Therefore, for the development and quality assurance of transparent conductive layers always both parameters are important. The technological trend is towards ever more conductive layers with very high optical transparency.

Since both variables often have to be measured and the measurement by using several measuring systems is time-consuming, capital and space intensive, EddyCus hybrid series was developed as a universal testing system.

Description of the difference between reflection and transmittance

Applications

Many types of functional layers must be transparent to visible light:

  • Transparent electrodes
  • Optical layers
  • Scratch protection layers
  • Barrier layers
  • Coated ploymer foils
  • Conductive polymers
  • Low-E coatings

The technological trend is towards ever more conductive layers with very high optical transparency.

Measurement optical Transparency

Usage of systems

The contactless measuring sheet resistance measurement devices from SURAGUS can be equipped with an additional sensor for measuring the light transmittance at a single wavelength or spectral measurement units. These combined hybrid measurement devices enable the quick and easy measurement of the sheet resistance and optical transparency.

 

Products for the measurement of sheet resistance and optical transparency

Measurement of sheet resistance anisotropy

The sheet resistivity anisotropy describes a change in the sheet resistance of a thin layer depending on the direction of the current flow. The anisotropy of the sheet resistance is based directly on an electrical anisotropy the conductive thin film.

For example, the conductivity of a layer of uniformly oriented nanowires be very high in the longitudinal direction of the wires, but much lower perpendicular to it.

Electric anisotropic layers are extremely interesting as they guarantee a certain conductivity in a desired preferential direction and maintain at the same time by using less material, a high optical transparency of the layer.

SURAGUS manufactures and sells versatile, non-contact testing equipment for electrical anisotropy and optical transparency.

The non-contact measurement of the sheet resistivity anisotropy provides an accurate and in-depth analysis of the direction, characteristics and quality of electrical anisotropy.

The derived results allow an extended analysis of the production process, fast process control and reliable quality assurance.

 

 

Applications

The measurement of electrical anisotropy is relevant where the high conductivity of a thin film is to be ensured in a certain direction and should remain a high optical transparencey of the layer.

This is especially important for:

  • Transparent electrodes
  • Organic photovoltaic
  • Touchscreens
  • Displays
  • Smart-glass
  • De-icing layers
TF lab Control software image while measuring the anisotropy of a sample

Usage of the systems

SURAGUS manufactures and sells versatile, contactless testing equipment for electrical anisotropy.

The non-contact measurement of the sheet resistivity anisotropy provides an accurate and in-depth analysis of the direction, characterization and quality of electrical anisotropy.

The derived results allow an extended analysis of the production process, fast process control and reliable quality assurance.

Kontakt

Für Produktanfragen kontaktieren Sie uns über

Für eine schnelle und informative Antwort beschreiben Sie bitte Ihre Messaufgabe (z.B. Material, Probengröße, erwarteter Messbereich) und geben Sie Ihre Telefonnummer an.

Durch das Absenden dieser Form, gestatte ich der SURAGUS GmbH meine Daten für die Kontaktaufnahme zu verwenden. Mehr dazu auf der Seite Impressum & Datenschutzerklärung