Silicon-carbon-nitrogen alloys have been deposited by electron cyclotr
on resonance plasma chemical vapor deposition. Nitrogen, methane, and
argon diluted silane have been used as precursor gases. The properties
of the deposited films were studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry, Fo
urier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron, and Auger
electron spectroscopy. The structure and bond formation in the SiCN fi
lms is discussed in terms of the present results. (C) 1996 American In
stitute of Physics.