Surface Modification by Ion Beam Enhanced Deposition

1983 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Kant ◽  
B. D. Sartwell

ABSTRACTCopper films given multiple sequences of Ta implantation and Cu depositions were analyzed using electron microscopy, backscattering, and Auger spectroscopy. Ta retention is 92% following direct implantation, and 100% retention was achieved for the same Ta dose if sputtered Cu is replaced during implantation. Lateral migration of Ta and microroughness were observed for all cases studied. Evidence for TaC formation is presented.

1985 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. More ◽  
R. F. Davis ◽  
B. R. Appleton ◽  
D. Lowndes ◽  
P. Smith

ABSTRACTPulsed laser annealing and ion beam mixing have been used as surface modification techniques to enhance the physical properties of polycrystalline α-SiC. Thin Ni overlayers (20 nm - 100 nm) were evaporated onto the SiC surface. The specimens were subsequently irradiated with pulses of a ruby or krypton fluoride (KrF) excimer laser or bombarded with high energy Xe+ or Si+ ions. Both processes are non-equilibrium methods and each has been shown to induce unique microstructural changes at the SiC surface which are not attainable by conventional thermal treatments. Under particular (and optimum) processing conditions, these changes considerably increased the mechanical properties of the SiC; following laser irradiation, the fracture strength of the SiC was increased by as much as 50%, but after ion beam mixing, no strength increase was observed.High resolution cross-section transmission electron microscopy (X-TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Rutherford backscattering techniques were used to characterize the extent of mixing between the Ni and the SiC as a result of the surface modification.


Author(s):  
M. T. Tinker ◽  
L. W. Hobbs

There is considerable technological interest in oxidation of nickel because of the importance of nickel-base superalloys in high-temperature oxidizing environments. NiO scales on nickel grow classically, by outward diffusion of nickel through the scale, and are among the most studied of oxidation systems. We report here the first extensive characterization by transmission electron microscopy of nickel oxide scales formed on bulk nickel substrates and sectioned both parallel and transversely to the Ni/NiO interface.Electrochemically-polished nickel sheet of 99.995% purity was oxidized at 1273 K in 0.1 MPa oxygen partial pressure for times between 5 s and 25 h. Parallel sections were produced using a combination of electropolishing of the nickel substrate and ion-beam thinning of the scale to any desired depth in the scale. Transverse sections were prepared by encasing stacked strips of oxidized nickel sheet in epoxy resin, sectioning transversely and ion-beam thinning until thin area spanning one or more interfaces was obtained.


Author(s):  
M. Spector ◽  
A. C. Brown

Ion beam etching and freeze fracture techniques were utilized in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy to study the ultrastructure of normal and diseased human hair. Topographical differences in the cuticular scale of normal and diseased hair were demonstrated in previous scanning electron microscope studies. In the present study, ion beam etching and freeze fracture techniques were utilized to reveal subsurface ultrastructural features of the cuticle and cortex.Samples of normal and diseased hair including monilethrix, pili torti, pili annulati, and hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia were cut from areas near the base of the hair. In preparation for ion beam etching, untreated hairs were mounted on conducting tape on a conducting silicon substrate. The hairs were ion beam etched by an 18 ky argon ion beam (5μA ion current) from an ETEC ion beam etching device. The ion beam was oriented perpendicular to the substrate. The specimen remained stationary in the beam for exposures of 6 to 8 minutes.


Author(s):  
Ching Shan Sung ◽  
Hsiu Ting Lee ◽  
Jian Shing Luo

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) plays an important role in the structural analysis and characterization of materials for process evaluation and failure analysis in the integrated circuit (IC) industry as device shrinkage continues. It is well known that a high quality TEM sample is one of the keys which enables to facilitate successful TEM analysis. This paper demonstrates a few examples to show the tricks on positioning, protection deposition, sample dicing, and focused ion beam milling of the TEM sample preparation for advanced DRAMs. The micro-structures of the devices and samples architectures were observed by using cross sectional transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy. Following these tricks can help readers to prepare TEM samples with higher quality and efficiency.


Author(s):  
H.J. Ryu ◽  
A.B. Shah ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
W.-H. Chuang ◽  
T. Tong

Abstract When failure analysis is performed on a circuit composed of FinFETs, the degree of defect isolation, in some cases, requires isolation to the fin level inside the problematic FinFET for complete understanding of root cause. This work shows successful application of electron beam alteration of current flow combined with nanoprobing for precise isolation of a defect down to fin level. To understand the mechanism of the leakage, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) slice was made along the leaky drain contact (perpendicular to fin direction) by focused ion beam thinning and lift-out. TEM image shows contact and fin. Stacking fault was found in the body of the silicon fin highlighted by the technique described in this paper.


Author(s):  
K. Doong ◽  
J.-M. Fu ◽  
Y.-C. Huang

Abstract The specimen preparation technique using focused ion beam (FIB) to generate cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) samples of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Tungsten-plug (W-plug) and Tungsten Silicides (WSix) was studied. Using the combination method including two axes tilting[l], gas enhanced focused ion beam milling[2] and sacrificial metal coating on both sides of electron transmission membrane[3], it was possible to prepare a sample with minimal thickness (less than 1000 A) to get high spatial resolution in TEM observation. Based on this novel thinning technique, some applications such as XTEM observation of W-plug with different aspect ratio (I - 6), and the grain structure of CVD W-plug and CVD WSix were done. Also the problems and artifacts of XTEM sample preparation of high Z-factor material such as CVD W-plug and CVD WSix were given and the ways to avoid or minimize them were suggested.


Author(s):  
Chin Kai Liu ◽  
Chi Jen. Chen ◽  
Jeh Yan.Chiou ◽  
David Su

Abstract Focused ion beam (FIB) has become a useful tool in the Integrated Circuit (IC) industry, It is playing an important role in Failure Analysis (FA), circuit repair and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) specimen preparation. In particular, preparation of TEM samples using FIB has become popular within the last ten years [1]; the progress in this field is well documented. Given the usefulness of FIB, “Artifact” however is a very sensitive issue in TEM inspections. The ability to identify those artifacts in TEM analysis is an important as to understanding the significance of pictures In this paper, we will describe how to measure the damages introduced by FIB sample preparation and introduce a better way to prevent such kind of artifacts.


Author(s):  
J. Douglass ◽  
T. D. Myers ◽  
F. Tsai ◽  
R. Ketcheson ◽  
J. Errett

Abstract This paper describes how the authors used a combination of focused ion beam (FIB) microprobing, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and data and process analysis to determine that localized water residue was causing a 6% yield loss at die sort.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Michela Relucenti ◽  
Giuseppe Familiari ◽  
Orlando Donfrancesco ◽  
Maurizio Taurino ◽  
Xiaobo Li ◽  
...  

Several imaging methodologies have been used in biofilm studies, contributing to deepening the knowledge on their structure. This review illustrates the most widely used microscopy techniques in biofilm investigations, focusing on traditional and innovative scanning electron microscopy techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), variable pressure SEM (VP-SEM), environmental SEM (ESEM), and the more recent ambiental SEM (ASEM), ending with the cutting edge Cryo-SEM and focused ion beam SEM (FIB SEM), highlighting the pros and cons of several methods with particular emphasis on conventional SEM and VP-SEM. As each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages, the choice of the most appropriate method must be done carefully, based on the specific aim of the study. The evaluation of the drug effects on biofilm requires imaging methods that show the most detailed ultrastructural features of the biofilm. In this kind of research, the use of scanning electron microscopy with customized protocols such as osmium tetroxide (OsO4), ruthenium red (RR), tannic acid (TA) staining, and ionic liquid (IL) treatment is unrivalled for its image quality, magnification, resolution, minimal sample loss, and actual sample structure preservation. The combined use of innovative SEM protocols and 3-D image analysis software will allow for quantitative data from SEM images to be extracted; in this way, data from images of samples that have undergone different antibiofilm treatments can be compared.


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