Asymmetric Silver to Oxide Adhesion in Multilayers Deposited on Glass by Sputtering

TL;DR

This study introduces a new adhesion measurement method for thin film multilayers on glass and reveals asymmetric adhesion properties between silver and oxide layers, influenced by interfacial structures.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel wedge-loaded double-cantilever beam setup and compares adhesion performance of different sublayers in multilayer coatings.

Findings

ext{SnO}_2 ext{ or } ext{TiO}_2 ext{ sublayers perform better than ZnO}

Rupture shifts to the upper Ag/ZnO interface indicating asymmetry

The upper Ag/ZnO interface is tougher due to non-equilibrium structures

Abstract

We have developed a wedge-loaded double-cantilever beam adhesion measurement set-up for thin films deposited on glass by sputtering. The test is described in details. Results on the Glass/sublayer/Ag/ZnO multilayer provide evidence that \SnOd or \TiOd perform better than ZnO as a sublayer. Then however, rupture within the multilayer shifts to the upper Ag/ZnO interface. The latter is shown to be tougher than the lower ZnO/Ag interface, an asymmetry due to non-equilibrium interfacial structures.