DESTRUCTIVE D.C. BREAKDOWN IN "BUILT-UP" BARIUM STEARATE FILMS

The thickness dependence of maximum breakdown voltage (d.c.) leading to the destruction of the film has been reported for “built-up” barium stearate films in the thickness range (400 Å–1000 Å). These films were chosen because of their promising applications for making dielectric devices, and because their thickness is accurately known and controllable (within 25 Å). The breakdown voltage is found to be almost independent of thickness and microscopic observations in transmission did not show the occurrence of “single-hole” and “propagating” breakdowns, as observed by Klein et al. in evaporated film systems. The I–V characteristics in the “non-destructive” phase have also been studied and the observed maximum breakdown voltage has been distinguished from the “maximum voltage breakdown” observed by Klein et al.