A thin copper layer (35 nm) deposited on SiO2 has been subjected to io
n-beam mixing with 80 keV Ar+ at room temperature, 550 and 650 K. Inte
rfacial properties of irradiated samples were investigated using Ruthe
rford backscattering spectroscopy, grazing-angle X-ray diffraction, X-
ray photo-electron spectroscopy and scratch testing. The adhesion of t
he copper film was improved by a factor of three at a dose of 1.5 x 10
(16) Ar+ cm-2 by the ion-beam mixing at room temperature, while the hi
gh-temperature ion-beam mixing enhanced the adhesion by a factor of fi
ve. Ballistic mixing plays a role in the improvement of adhesion for t
he room-temperature ion mixing, and the creation Of Cu2O phase induced
by ion-beam mixing contributes to the enhancement of adhesion at high
temperature.