Silicon Germanium Oxide (Si_xGe_yO_1-x-y) Infrared Sensitive Material for Uncooled Detectors

Abstract

This paper presents the formation and the characterization of silicon germanium oxide (SixGeyO1-x-y) infrared sensitive material for uncooled microbolometers. RF magnetron sputtering was used to simultaneously deposit Si and Ge thin films in an Ar/O2 environment at room temperature. The effects of varying Si and O composition on the thin film's electrical properties which include temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and resistivity were investigated. The highest achieved TCR and the corresponding resistivity at room temperature were -5.41 %/K and 3.16×103 ohm cm using Si0.039Ge0.875O0.086 for films deposited at room temperature.