Understanding adhesion of gold conductive films on sodium-alginate by photoelectron spectroscopy

Year: 2019

Authors: Capelli R., Maccagnani P., Dinelli F., Murgia M., Bertoldo M., Montecchi M., Doyle B. P., Carleschi E., Pasquali L.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Modena & Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento Ingn E Ferrari, Via Vivarelli 10, I-41125 Modena, Italy; CNR, Ist Officina Mat, SS 14,Km 163-5 Area Sci Pk, I-34012 Trieste, Italy; Univ Johannesburg, Dept Phys, POB 524, ZA-2006 Auckland Pk, South Africa; CNR, Ist Microelettron & Microsistemi, Via P Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy; CNR, Ist Nazl Ott, Via G Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Italy; CNR, Ist Studio Mat Nanostrutturati, Via P Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy; CNR, Ist Sintesi Organ & Fotoreattivita, Via P Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy.

Abstract: Ultrathin layers of gold, from 2 to 25 nm of nominal coverage, have been deposited on sodium-alginate biopolymer foils applying two alternative approaches: low power sputtering and thermal evaporation. The morphology of the deposited layers was obtained by means of atomic force microscopy. In the early stages of growth, thermal evaporation gives rise to a top surface resembling the underlying substrate, whereas low power sputtering produces a topography characterized by smoother areas. This indicates that the film growth occurs in different ways. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with two photon energies, corresponding to Al Kα and Ag Lα photons, was used to get information on the chemistry at the interface and on the degree of intermixing between Au and sodium-alginate. While no chemical modifications with respect to the bare materials could be detected, the evolution of the intensities of the relevant core levels of Au and sodium alginate (Au 4f and Na 1s in particular) indicated a strong intermixing in the case of films deposited by low power sputtering. This is further supported by optical measurements. The observed behaviour can be correlated with the enhanced adhesion of sputtered films compared to thermally evaporated ones.

Journal/Review: THIN SOLID FILMS

Volume: 690      Pages from: 137535  to: 137540

More Information: This work was partially supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa [grant numbers 85364, 90698 and 93205].
KeyWords: Sputtering deposition, Thermal evaporation, Gold thin films, Biopolymer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2019.137535

Citations: 7
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