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Received: December 13, 2022; Revised: December 26, 2022; Accepted: December 26, 2022
Abstract: Hafnium nitride (HfN) thin films were fabricated by mid-frequency magnetron sputtering (mfMS) and direct current magnetron sputtering (dcMS) and their mechanical and structural properties were compared. In particular, changes in the HfN film properties were observed by changing the pulse frequency of mfMS between 5 kHz, 15 kHz, and 30 kHz. The crystalline structure, microstructure, 3D morphology, and mechanical properties of the HfN films were compared by x-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and nanoindentation tester, respectively. HfN film deposited by mfMS showed a smoother and denser microstructure as the frequency increased, whereas the film deposited by dcMS showed a rough and sloppy microstructure. A single δ-HfN phase was observed in the HfN film made by mfMS with a pulse frequency of 30 kHz, but mixed δ-HfN and HfN0·4 phases were observed in the HfN film made by dcMS. The mechanical properties of HfN film made by mfMS were improved compared to film made by dcMS.