The formation of aurum–aluminum (Au–Al) alloy on silicon substrate and its use to be electrode of polymer electro-optic (EO) modulator were investigated. The surface morphology and crystallinity were studied by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer. The electrical resistivity was characterized by the four-probe method. XRD pattern confirmed the formation of AuAl phase. After annealed for 11 min at 575 °C, the Au–Al alloy film exhibited a root mean square roughness of less than 40 nm and a minimum electrical resistivity of 2.24 μΩ cm with no obvious change within 6 months. The scattering-parameter (S21) of a fabricated co-planar waveguide electrode polymer EO modulator was measured by vector network analyzer, and a 3-dB bandwidth of 5.2 GHz was observed. These physical properties promise good potentials of Au–Al alloy to be electrode of polymer EO modulators.
Yuanbin Yue,Jian Sun,Xuliang Zhao,Ying Xie,Xibin Wang,Lei Liang,Fei Wang,Changming Chen,Yunji Yi,Xiaoqiang Sun,Daming Zhang.
Applied Surface Science,298,137-141(2014)