Anisotropic elastic properties of nanocrystalline nickel thin films

Published

May 1, 2006

Author(s)

Donna C. Hurley, Roy H. Geiss, N Jennett, Malgorzata Kopycinska-Mueller, A Maxwell, Jens Mueller, David T. Read, J Wright

Abstract

As length scales continue to shrink, new tools are needed to measure mechanical properties. We are developing two such tools using different nondestructive acoustical techniques. Surface acoustic wave spectroscopy (SAWS) uses laser-ultrasonic methods to measure the phase velocity dispersion relation over several hundred megahertz. SAWS can accurately assess sub-micrometer-thick films, although it interrogates a centimeter-sized area. In contrast, atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM) has lateral spatial resolution of tens of nanometers. AFAM involves acoustical excitation of flexural resonances in the cantilever of an atomic force microscope. Here, we present AFAM and SAWS results for nickel films with thicknesses from 50 to 800 nm. For the thickest film, acoustical data are compared to results from microtensile testing and nanoindentation. Results are in only fair agreement if elastic isotropy is assumed. However, very good agreement is achieved using a transversely isotropic film model. This is consistent with a preferential <111 > film texture, confirn'led by x-ray analysis. We also discuss how SAWS results can be analyzed to obtain other information such as film thickness. Our results demonstrate how comparing results from several techniques yields more information about the film properties than that provided by anyone measurement.

Citation

Journal of Materials Research

Volume

20

Issue

5

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

acoustic AFM, surface acoustic waves, thin films

Citation

Hurley, D. , Geiss, R. , Jennett, N. , Kopycinska-Mueller, M. , Maxwell, A. , Mueller, J. , Read, D. and Wright, J. (2006), Anisotropic elastic properties of nanocrystalline nickel thin films, Journal of Materials Research, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=50050 (Accessed October 14, 2025)