Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Item
    Study of TiAl thin films on piezoelectric CTGS substrates as an alternative metallization system for high-temperature SAW devices
    (Rio de Janeiro : Elsevier, 2021) Seifert, Marietta; Lattner, Eric; Menzel, Siegfried B.; Oswald, Steffen; Gemming, Thomas
    Ti/Al multilayer films with a total thickness of 200 nm were deposited on the high-temperature (HT) stable piezoelectric Ca3TaGa3Si2O14 (CTGS) as well as on thermally oxidized Si (SiO2/Si) reference substrates. The Ti–Al films were characterized regarding their suitability as an alternative metallization for electrodes in HT surface acoustic wave devices. These films provide the advantage of significantly lower costs and in addition also a significantly lower density as compared to Pt, which allows a greater flexibility in device design. To realize a thermal stability of the films, AlNO cover as well as barrier layers at the interface to the substrate were applied. The samples were annealed for 10 h at up to 800 °C in high vacuum (HV) and at 600 °C in air and analyzed regarding the γ-TiAl phase formation, film morphology, and possible degradation. The Ti/Al films were prepared either by magnetron sputtering or by e-beam evaporation and the different behavior arising from the different deposition method was analyzed and discussed. For the evaporated Ti/Al films, AlNO barriers with a lower O content were used to evaluate the influence of the composition of the AlNO on the HT stability. The sputter-deposited Ti/Al films showed an improved γ-TiAl phase formation and HT stability (on SiO2/Si up to 800 °C in HV and 600 °C in air, on CTGS with a slight oxidation after annealing at 800 °C in HV) as compared to the evaporated samples, which were only stable up to 600 °C in HV and in air.
  • Item
    Aluminum based high temperature thin film electrode system for wireless sensors
    (Rio de Janeiro : Elsevier, 2023) Seifert, Marietta; Leszczynska, Barbara; Menzel, Siegfried B.; Schmidt, Hagen; Gemming, Thomas
    Self-sustained, wireless high-temperature stable sensors are developed, which are based on an aluminum alloy as the electrode metallization. Due to its cost-effectiveness accompanied by a high-temperature stability, this alloy substitutes and outperforms the commonly applied expensive Pt- and Ir-based metals. For the first time, a comprehensive structural, electrical and high-frequency characterization of these surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors is shown. They are based on Catangasite (Ca3TaGa3Si2O14, CTGS) in combination with properly structured cover and barrier layers for the metallization. The frequency characteristics is determined up to 700 °C by ex situ and in situ methods. In addition, the morphology of the AlRu electrodes is analyzed after the thermal loadings and the temperature dependent sheet resistance is measured. The results reveal a reproducible and linear correlation between the applied temperature and the sheet resistance as well as the resonant frequency. In addition, hardly any degradation of the electrodes is detected after the thermal loadings. The observed high-temperature stability of the devices up to at least 700 °C demonstrates the large potential of the AlRu based SAW sensors as a cost-efficient alternative to expensive noble metal based sensors in industrial applications for the support of energy efficient operation.
  • Item
    Durability of TiAl based surface acoustic wave devices for sensing at intermediate high temperatures
    (Rio de Janeiro : Elsevier, 2023) Seifert, Marietta; Leszczynska, Barbara; Weser, Robert; Menzel, Siegfried; Gemming, Thomas; Schmidt, Hagen
    TiAl based surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, which offer a promising cheap and easy to handle wireless sensor solution for intermediate high temperatures up to 600 °C, were prepared and investigated with respect to their durability. To obtain the devices, Ti/Al multilayers were deposited on high-temperature stable piezoelectric catangasite (CTGS) substrates and structured as electrodes via the lift-off technique. AlNO cover layers and barrier layers at the substrate site served as an oxidation protection. The devices were characterized regarding their electrical behavior by ex-situ measurements of their frequency characteristics after heat treatments up to 600 °C in air. In addition, long-term in situ measurements up to 570 °C were performed to analyze a possible drift of the resonant frequency in dependence on the temperature and time. Scanning electron microscopy of the surfaces of the devices and scanning transmission electron microscopy of cross sections of TiAl interdigital transducer electrode fingers and the contact pads were conducted to check the morphology of the electrode metallization and to reveal if degradation or oxidation processes occurred during the heat treatments. The results demonstrated a sufficient high-temperature stability of the TiAl based devices after a first conditioning of system. A linear dependence of the resonant frequency on the temperature of about −37 ppm/K was observed. In summary, the suitability of TiAl based SAW sensors for long-term application at intermediate temperatures was proven.