Improved technique for cross-sectional imaging of thin polymer films by transmission electron microscopy

Polymer ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 2427-2430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Kunz ◽  
Kenneth Shull
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Polymer Films ◽  
Thin Polymer Films ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Thin Polymer ◽  
Cross Sectional Imaging ◽  
Sectional Imaging ◽  
Improved Technique

Microstructure of laser-irradiated, conducting Kapton polyimide

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 502-503
Author(s):  
D. L. Callahan ◽  
Z. Ball ◽  
H. M. Phillips ◽  
R. Sauerbrey
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Phase Transition ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Film Surface ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
General Utility ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
Potential Applications

Ultraviolet laser-irradiation can be used to induce an insulator-to-conductor phase transition on the surface of Kapton polyimide. Such structures have potential applications as resistors or conductors for VLSI applications as well as general utility electrodes. Although the percolative nature of the phase transformation has been well-established, there has been little definitive work on the mechanism or extent of transformation. In particular, there has been considerable debate about whether or not the transition is primarily photothermal in nature, as we propose, or photochemical. In this study, cross-sectional optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are utilized to characterize the nature of microstructural changes associated with the laser-induced pyrolysis of polyimide.Laser-modified polyimide samples initially 12 μm thick were prepared in cross-section by standard ultramicrotomy. Resulting contraction in parallel to the film surface has led to distortions in apparent magnification. The scale bars shown are calibrated for the direction normal to the film surface only.

Ion thinning of integrated circuit transverse specimens for transmission electron microscopy

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1426-1427
Author(s):  
F. Shaapur
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Integrated Circuit ◽  
Substrate Surface ◽  
Homogeneous Material ◽  
Material System ◽  
Ion Milling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Motion Profile

Non-uniform ion-thinning of heterogenous material structures has constituted a fundamental difficulty in preparation of specimens for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A variety of corrective procedures have been developed and reported for reducing or eliminating the effect. Some of these techniques are applicable to any non-homogeneous material system and others only to unidirectionalfy heterogeneous samples. Recently, a procedure of the latter type has been developed which is mainly based on a new motion profile for the specimen rotation during ion-milling. This motion profile consists of reversing partial revolutions (RPR) within a fixed sector which is centered around a direction perpendicular to the specimen heterogeneity axis. The ion-milling results obtained through this technique, as studied on a number of thin film cross-sectional TEM (XTEM) specimens, have proved to be superior to those produced via other procedures.XTEM specimens from integrated circuit (IC) devices essentially form a complex unidirectional nonhomogeneous structure. The presence of a variety of mostly lateral features at different levels along the substrate surface (consisting of conductors, semiconductors, and insulators) generally cause non-uniform results if ion-thinned conventionally.

TEM Sample Preparation Tricks for Advanced DRAMs

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching Shan Sung ◽  
Hsiu Ting Lee ◽  
Jian Shing Luo
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Integrated Circuit ◽  
Focused Ion Beam ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Tem Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Characterization Of Materials

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.

Post Oxidation Anneal and Re-Oxidation Effects in 5 nm SiO2 Films

1986 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Dori ◽  
M. Arienzo ◽  
Y. C. Sun ◽  
T. N. Nguyen ◽  
J. Wetzel
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Silicon Dioxide ◽  
Oxygen Vacancies ◽  
Interface Roughness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Oxide Charge ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Redistribution Of Hydrogen ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy Cross

ABSTRACTUltrathin silicon dioxide films, 5 nm thick, were grown in a double-walled furnace at 850°C in dry O2. A consistent improvement in the electrical properties is observed following the oxidation either with a Post-Oxidation Anneal (POA) at 1000°C in N2 or with the same POA followed by a short re-oxidation (Re-Ox) step in which 1 nm of additional oxide was grown. We attribute these results to the redistribution of hydrogen and water related groups as well as to a change in the concentration of sub-oxide charge states at the Si-SiO2 interface. A further improvement observed after the short re-oxidation step had been attributed to the filling of the oxygen vacancies produced during the POA. High resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy cross-sectional observations of the Si-iSO2 interface have evidenced an increase in the interface roughness after the thermal treatment at high temperature. These results are in agreement with recent XPS data.

Photo Modified Growth of GaAs by Chemical Beam Epitaxy

1998 ◽  
Vol 510 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jothilingam ◽  
T. Farrell ◽  
T.B. Joyce ◽  
P.J. Goodhew
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Growth Rate ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Xenon Lamp ◽  
Chemical Beam Epitaxy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Substrate Temperatures ◽  
Laser Reflectometry

AbstractWe report the photo modified growth of GaAs by chemical beam epitaxy at substrate temperatures in the range 335 to 670°C using triethygallium (TEG) and arsine. A mercury-xenon lamp (electrical power 200 W) provided the irradiation for the photoassisted growth. The growth was monitored in real time by laser reflectometry (LR) using a 670 nm semiconductor laser, and the optically determined growth rate agreed with that obtained from the layer thickness measured by cross sectional transmission electron microscopy. The observed photo-enhancement of the growth rate at low substrate temperatures and inhibition at high substrate temperatures is thermal in origin, consistent with raising the substrate temperature by 10±3°C. Cross sectional transmission electron microscopy showed that the photoassisted layers are essentially free from dislocations

scholarly journals High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy of Metallic Film/Laser-Irradiated Alumina Couples.

1994 ◽  
Vol 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Pedraza ◽  
Siqi Cao ◽  
L. F. Allard ◽  
D. H. Lowndes
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Copper Film ◽  
Interfacial Structure ◽  
Diffuse Interface ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Polycrystalline Alumina ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Transmission Electron

AbstractA near-surface thin layer is melted when single crystal alumina (sapphire) is pulsed laserirradiated in an Ar-4%H2 atmosphere. γ-alumina grows epitaxially from the (0001) face of axalumina (sapphire) during the rapid solidification of this layer that occurs once the laser pulse is over. Cross sectional high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) reveals that the interface between unmelted sapphire and γ-alumina is atomistically flat with steps of one to a few close-packed oxygen layers; however, pronounced lattice distortions exist in the resolidified γ-alumina. HRTEM also is used to study the metal-ceramic interface of a copper film deposited on a laser-irradiated alumina substrate. The observed changes of the interfacial structure relative to that of unexposed substrates are correlated with the strong enhancement of film-substrate bonding promoted by laser irradiation. HRTEM shows that a thin amorphous film is produced after irradiation of 99.6% polycrystalline alumina. Formation of a diffuse interface and atomic rearrangements that can take place in metastable phases contribute to enhance the bonding strength of copper to laser-irradiated alumina.

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