Review on Different Properties of

Niobium Based Coating

Outline :-
• Introduction
• Niobium Pentoxide (Nb2O5)
• Niobium Nitride (NbN)
• Niobium Carbide (NbC)
• Conclusion
• References
Introduction :-
• Surface coating is sub branch of Surface Engineering. Coating is defined as the
covering which is applied to the surface of the object. The purpose of applying
coating may be decorative, functional or both.
• Functional coating may be applied to change of the surface properties of the
substrate, such as wettability, adhesion, corrosion resistance or wear resistance.
• Adhesion properties, Optical coating (reflective coating for mirror, anti-reflective
coating, UV-absorbent coating), Protective coating (water proofing, roof coating,
anti- friction coating), Magnetic properties such as cassette tapses, floppy disks).
Continue :-
Introduction :-
• Niobium is a shiny, silver metal which
crystallizes in body entered cubic
(BCC) lattice with a melting point and
boiling points at 2477ºc and 4744ºc,
respectively, and density of 8.57 g/cm3.
Niobium can form very stable oxide,
nitride, carbide, oxy-nitride with high
interatomic bonding energies [1].
• Niobium based coatings has good
mechanical properties for dental implant
because it has exposed to loads and
fatigue cycles, which can only be
achieved by use of metallic material and
has good corrosion resistance [2].
Niobium [1]
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• Niobium thin film can also be used in cryogenic devices, diffusion barrier in
Josephan junctions and as coating for superconductive cables [2]. The hardness,
refractive index, corrosion resistance, coloration efficiency, band gap,
compressive stress of niobium film depend on the deposition parameter
according to application.
• Basically, there are different alloys of niobium like,
1. Niobium Pentoxide (Nb2O5)
2. Niobium Nitride (NbN)
3. Niobium Carbide (NbC)
Niobium Pentoxide (Nb2O5)
• Niobium Oxide sometime called columbium oxide, may refer to Niobium
monoxide (NbO), Niobium dioxode (NbO2), Niobium Pentoxide (Nb2O5).
• The most stable form of niobium oxide is niobia (Nb2O5-Niobium Pentoxide)
and it is very attractive for electronic application as well as superconducting
radio cavities. Recently, there has been a considerable interest in using niobia as
high permittivity dielectric to replace the existing gate in microelectronic
devices [3]-[5].
• NbO film are utilized in refractive index layers in optical interference filters [6]
which consist of multilayer stack of high and low refractive materials. It can
also attracts due to its presence as a constitute of different compound oxide such
as lithium niobate, barium and lead, which are used in modulators and optical
waveguides [7,8]. It has excellent chemical and thermal stability [9].
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• Venkataraj, et al [10] studied the effect of annealing temperature on structural and
optical properties of the sputtered niobium oxide film. They found that with
increase in annealing temperature (100ºc to 600ºc) thickness decrease (51.43 nm
to 45.39 nm) as well as increase in surface roughness (0.258 to 0.582 nm).
• Valente, et al. [11] explored the different material properties of the niobium thin
film affected by deposition energy. The film based on sapphire substrate, show
good crystal orientation. The interface between sapphire and niobium is very
sharp, and show epitaxial growth of niobium as well as tunneling electron
micrograph of niobium film on copper substrate in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
• nb2o5.docx
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Fig : 1 Niobium film on sapphire

Fig : 2 Cross section TEM
deposited at -90V substrate Bias : cross-
section TEM view (a), cross-section view
micrographs of niobium film
of niobium sapphire surface (b) and on copper deposited at -60V
electron diffraction pattern showing (100) (top) and -90V (bottom)
crystal orientation (c) [11] substrate bias [11]
Niobium Nitride (NbN) :-
• Transition metal nitride with interestically implemented atoms of nitrogen and
oxygen form an exclusive properties . Interest of researchers in the properties of
niobium nitride such as good corrosion and abrasion resistance, high
temperature resistance, high melting point, low electrical resistivity,
biocompatibility, and oxidation resistance has been aroused for nitrides and oxy-
nitrides of the element. [12]-[15].
• Chan-weifan [16] studied surface free energy of NbNX film deposited by radio
frequency sputtering. They founded that with raising N2 content, contact angle
components decreased with increasing surface temperature. Due to distrupt
hydrogen bonds between water and films, surface free energy affected by
surface roughness.
• NbNX.docx
Niobium Carbide (NbC) :-
• Transition metal carbides have allured properties, such as good chemical
stability, high hardness and high melting points enabling these carbides for
prospective applications, as field emitters, wear resistant coatings and diffusion
barrier coatings [17,18].
• NbC have better tribological behaviour compared to other refractory metals with
high melting point and chemical inertness which is basic cause to make niobium
carbide thin layer film as a appropriate substance for protective coating.[19]
• Neafon et.al [20] examined different C/Nb ratio of 0.93-1.59, with reactive
sputtering and non-reactive sputtering process. It is found that thinner a-c matrix
is reflected in coating properties with a higher conductivity and slightly higher
hardness. The highest content (C/Nb ratio 1.59) shows the lowest friction (0.23),
wear rate (0.17*10-6 mm3/mm) and contact resistance before (11mΩ at 10 N) and
after (30 mΩ at 10 N) chemical stability test.
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• Zhang et.al. [21] explored the effects of Vb and CH4 (6 sccm and 16 scccm) on
phase structure, composition, morphology, mechanical properties and tribological
behaviour for NbC film. Maximum hardness extends upto 36.8 Gpa for film grown
at flow rate of CH4 is 6 sccm and bias voltage is -160 V. Friction co-efficient of film
obtained at FCH4= 6 sccm.
• Cheng et.al [22] examined that NbC deposited on silicon (100) substrate by direct
current reactive sputtering using CH4 carbon content. With increasing carbon
content, surface film become smooth. Increase in the compressive stress show
maximum hardness 25 Gpa. Friction co-efficient and wear resistance were improved
by increasing the content of surface carbon.
• Zoita et.al [23] studied characterization of NbC deposited on silicon substrate by RF
magnetron sputtering method. They revealed that deposit film at a lower substrate
temperature were less crystallized and had smaller mean grain size. It also showed
reflectivity (20-30 nm) depend on the films crystallographic structure, carbon
content and amount of non-reacted metal.
Continues :-
• Rafel esquites [24] studied deposition of NbC and carbonitride by physical
vapour deposition using direct sputtering technique on H13 hot work tool steel
and explored microstructure and mechanical properties of NbC. They found that
hardness and elastic modulus of NbC are 37 Gpa and 400 Gpa respectively,
superior to titanium nitride films.
Conclusion :-
• Niobium based alloys like Nb2O5, NbC and NbC has great requirement in electronic
application (superconducting thin film), microelectronic devices, optoelectronic
technology (lithium batteries), nanocrystalline solar cells and catalist industry, as it
proffers superior film properties like high hardness, better mechanical properties,
suitable superconducting temperature, good corrosion resistance and abrasion
resistance, chemical stability for wear resistant coating, tribological behaviour for
protective coatings compare to other transition metals (zirconium, tungsten, titanium,
tantalum, hafmium, molybdenum).
• There is more research study remaining regarding the tribological properties of
niobium carbide (NbC) for protective coatings which is used in smart windows as
well as mirrors.
• Tribological behaviour of the NbN thin film reveal that friction co-efficient decrease
with increasing in temperature [64].Hardness of the NbN thin film resulted between
26 Gpa to 35 Gpa which is increase with decrease in nitrogen percentage [25].
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