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Raman studies on nanocomposite silicon carbonitride thin film deposited by RF magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperatures

Raman studies of nanocomposite SiCN thin film by sputtering showed that with an increase of substrate temperature from room temperature to 500oC, a transition from mostly sp2 graphitic phase to sp3 carbon took place which was observed from the variation of ID/IG ratio and the peak shifts. This process resulted in the growth of C3N4 and Si3N4 crystallites in the amorphous matrix which led to an increase in hardness and modulus obtained through nanoindentation. However, at a further higher temperature of 600oC, again an increase of sp2 C concentration in the film was observed and the H and E values showed a decrease due to increased growth of graphitic carbon phase. The whole process got reflected in a modified four stage Ferrari Robertson model of Raman spectroscopy.