Single layer and multilayered films of plasma polymers analyzed by nanoindentation and spectroscopic ellipsometry

Well-defined single layer and multilayered a-SiC:H films, deposited from tetravinylsilane at different powers by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on silicon, were intensively studied by in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry, nanoindentation, and atomic force microscopy. A realistic model of the sample structure was used to analyze ellipsometric data and distinguish individual layers in the multilayered film, evaluate their thickness and optical constants. Dispersion dependences for the refractive index were well separated for each type of individual layer, if the thickness was decreased from 315 to 25 nm, and corresponded to those of the single layer. A beveled section of the multilayered film revealed the individual layers that were investigated by atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation to confirm that mechanical properties in multilayered and single layer films are similar.