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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Silicon nitride thin films are deposited at low temperature using the inductively coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.(ICP‐CVD) N2 and SiH4 gases are used as reactant gases for deposition of silicon nitride thin films with low hydrogen content. Composition, refractive index, and hydrogen content of the films were examined with variation of N2 flow rate, RF power and substrate temperature. As N2 flow rate and RF power increase and substrate temperature is lowered, N/Si ratio is reduced producing higher refractive index of the film. Hydrogen content of the films is calculated by FTIR spectroscopy and is much less than those of the films deposited by conventional PECVD using SiH4/N2 gases since N2 gas is used instead of NH3 gas. Total hydrogen content is constant regardless of RF Power and N2 flow rate. However, the hydrogen content decreases with increasing substrate temperature due to the release of hydrogen at high temperature.