Open AccessOn the application of a single‐crystal κ‐diffractometer and a CCD area detector for studies of thin films
Author(s) -
Sønsteby Henrik Hovde,
Chernyshov Dmitry,
Getz Michael,
Nilsen Ola,
Fjellvåg Helmer
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of synchrotron radiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 99
ISSN - 1600-5775
DOI - 10.1107/s0909049513009102
Subject(s) - diffractometer , crystallinity , thin film , materials science , optics , detector , crystallite , goniometer , reciprocal lattice , sample (material) , orientation (vector space) , crystal (programming language) , epitaxy , optoelectronics , layer (electronics) , computer science , diffraction , physics , nanotechnology , geometry , mathematics , composite material , scanning electron microscope , metallurgy , programming language , thermodynamics
A multipurpose six‐axis κ‐diffractometer, together with the brilliance of the ESRF light source and a CCD area detector, has been explored for studying epitaxial relations and crystallinity in thin film systems. The geometrical flexibility of the six‐axis goniometer allows measurement of a large volume in reciprocal space, providing an in‐depth understanding of sample crystal relationships. By a set of examples of LaAlO 3 thin films deposited by the atomic layer deposition technique, the possibilities of the set‐up are presented. A fast panoramic scan provides determination of the crystal orientation matrices, prior to more thorough inspection of single Bragg nodes. Such information, in addition to a broadening analysis of families of single reflections, is shown to correlate well with the crystallinity, crystallite size, strain and epitaxial relationships in the thin films. The proposed set‐up offers fast and easy sample mounting and alignment, along with crucial information on key features of the thin film structures.