| Abstract |
| Thin films have been used in a large variety of technological applications such as solar cells, optical memories, photolithographic masks, protective coatings, and electronic contacts. If thin films experience frequent temperature changes, thermal stresses are generated due to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the film and substrate. Thermal stresses may lead to damage or deformation in thin film used in electronic devices and micro-machined structures. Thus, knowledge of the thermo-mechanical properties of thin films, such as the coefficient of thermal expansion, is an important issue in determining the stability and reliability of the thin film devices. In this study, thermal cycling of Cu and Ag thin films with various microstructures was employed to assess the coefficient of thermal expansion of the films. The result revealed that the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the Cu and Ag thin films increased with an increasing grain size. However, the effect of film thickness on the CTE did not show a remarkable difference. |
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| Key Words |
| Thin films, vapor deposition, mechanical properties, thermal analysis, coefficient if thermal expansion |
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