A novel sample preparation technique for cross-sectional tem investigation of integrated circuits

1983 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Vanhellemont ◽  
H. Bender ◽  
C. Claeys ◽  
J. Van Landuyt ◽  
G. Declerck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sample Preparation Technique

A Technique for Preparing “Two in One” Cross-Sectional TEM Specimens

1990 ◽  
Vol 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang-Hwa M. Ma ◽  
Sopa Chevacharoenkul
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Preparation Time ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sample Preparation Technique ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Junction Formation ◽  
Suitable Marker

ABSTRACTA modified “two-in-one” cross-sectional TEM sample preparation technique is described. By coating a thin layer of “marker” to distinguish one sample from the other, two samples could be simultaneously prepared in one TEM cross-sectional specimen. Therefore, the specimen preparation time is reduced by nearly one half. The coating can be done in an existing ion-mill. Criteria for choosing a suitable marker as well as tips on getting good quality specimens are described. An example of applying this technique to a processing-microstructure study of an ultra-shallow junction formation in silicon is demonstrated.

Alternative Sample Preparation Technique for Die Level Parallel Lapping Analysis

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoon Ye Gwee ◽  
Kiong Kay Ng
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Preparation Method ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Sample Preparation Method ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Sample Preparation Technique ◽  
Sem Imaging ◽  
Voltage Contrast ◽  
Super Glue

Abstract Parallel lapping (often called delayering) is a commonly used process in failure analysis of integrated circuits. However, parallel lapping commonly gives rise to the issue of weak sample preparation method especially on specimen mounting. The traditional specimen mounting technique was done by mounted a single die to polishing fixture using drop of super glue. Using conventional methods, problems such as losing the die during polishing, serious edge rounding are often encountered. Further, loading the whole polishing fixture into Scanning Electron Microscopy machine for SEM imaging or Passive Voltage Contrast (PVC) fault localization can be complicated due to the size of polishing fixture. Therefore, an alternative, relatively fast and simple method to overcome the above mentioned obstacles is proposed.

A Multi-Step Transmission Electron Microscopy Sample Preparation Technique for Cracked, Heavily Damaged, Brittle Materials

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1646-1653
Author(s):  
Claire V. Weiss Brennan ◽  
Scott D. Walck ◽  
Jeffrey J. Swab
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Brittle Materials ◽  
Ceramic Materials ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Ion Milling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Multiphase Materials ◽  
Sample Preparation Technique ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Archaeological Materials

AbstractA new technique for the preparation of heavily cracked, heavily damaged, brittle materials for examination in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) is described in detail. In this study, cross-sectional TEM samples were prepared from indented silicon carbide (SiC) bulk ceramics, although this technique could also be applied to other brittle and/or multiphase materials. During TEM sample preparation, milling-induced damage must be minimized, since in studying deformation mechanisms, it would be difficult to distinguish deformation-induced cracking from cracking occurring due to the sample preparation. The samples were prepared using a site-specific, two-step ion milling sequence accompanied by epoxy vacuum infiltration into the cracks. This technique allows the heavily cracked, brittle ceramic material to stay intact during sample preparation and also helps preserve the true microstructure of the cracked area underneath the indent. Some preliminary TEM results are given and discussed in regards to deformation studies in ceramic materials. This sample preparation technique could be applied to other cracked and/or heavily damaged materials, including geological materials, archaeological materials, fatigued materials, and corrosion samples.

A Selected Area Planar TEM (SAPTEM) Sample Preparation Procedure for Failure Analysis of Integrated Circuits

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Subramanian ◽  
P. Schani ◽  
E. Widener ◽  
P. Liston ◽  
J. Moss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Mechanical Grinding ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Plan View ◽  
The Cross

Abstract A selected area planar TEM (SAPTEM) sample preparation technique for failure analysis of integrated circuits using a transmission electron microscope has been developed. The technique employs a combination of mechanical grinding, selective wet/dry chemical etching (if required) and a two step focused ion beam IIFIB) milling. The mechanical grinding steps include: (a) a backside grind to achieve a die thickness less than 30 µm, (b) the support half ring glue, and (c) a cross-section grind from one side to reach less than 35 pm to the failing site. A selective wet or dry chemical etch is applied before, between,, or after FIB thinning depending on the nature of problem and device components. The FIB milling steps involve: (is) a high ion current cross-sectional cut to reach as close as 5-8 µm to the area of interest (b) a final planar thinning with the ion beam parallel to the surface of the die. The plan view procedure offers unique geometric advantage over the cross-section method for failure analysis of problems that are limited to silicon or certain layers of the device. Iln the cross-sectional approach, a thin section (thickness less than 250 µm) of a device is available for failure analysis, whereas in the planar procedure a 20 µm2 area of any layer (thickness less than 250 µm) of the device is available. The above advantage has been successfully exploited to identify and solve the following prablems in fast static random access memories (FSRAM): (i) random gateoxide rupture that resulted in single bit failures, (ii) random dislocations from the buried contact trenching that caused single bit failures and general silicon defectivity (e.g. implant damage and spacer edge defects), and (iii) interracial reactions.

In Situ Cross-Sectional Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Sample Preparation Technique

1995 ◽  
Vol 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-C. Kim ◽  
M. J. Nowakowski ◽  
D. N. Seidman
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy ◽  
Ultrahigh Vacuum ◽  
Atomic Resolution ◽  
Scanning Tunneling ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Tunneling Microscopy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sample Preparation Technique

ABSTRACTA novel in situ sample cleavage technique has been developed for fabricating specimens for cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy (XSTM) applications. This technique can be easily adapted to any ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) STM that has a coarse motion capability. A conducting diamond STM tip is used to create micron long scratches on Ge/GaAs or GaAs {001 }-type surfaces. These {001} surfaces are imaged with STM to observe scratch characteristics, and GaAs samples are cleaved to reveal {110}-type faces. Atomic resolution images of {110}-type GaAs surfaces are readily and reproducibly obtained.

SEM evaluation of the TEM cold-stage double-film specimen

1984 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 272-273
Author(s):  
Jayesh Bellare
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Sample Thickness ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Liquid Sample ◽  
Thin Specimen ◽  
Sample Preparation Technique ◽  
Cold Stage ◽  
Film Specimen

Seeing is believing, but only after the sample preparation technique has received a systematic study and a full record is made of the treatment the sample gets.For microstructured liquids and suspensions, fast-freeze thermal fixation and cold-stage microscopy is perhaps the least artifact-laden technique. In the double-film specimen preparation technique, a layer of liquid sample is trapped between 100- and 400-mesh polymer (polyimide, PI) coated grids. Blotting against filter paper drains excess liquid and provides a thin specimen, which is fast-frozen by plunging into liquid nitrogen. This frozen sandwich (Fig. 1) is mounted in a cooling holder and viewed in TEM.Though extremely promising for visualization of liquid microstructures, this double-film technique suffers from a) ireproducibility and nonuniformity of sample thickness, b) low yield of imageable grid squares and c) nonuniform spatial distribution of particulates, which results in fewer being imaged.

TEM sample preparation of wear-tested room-temperature pulsed-laser-deposited thin films of MoS2 by ultramicrotomy

1993 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 1118-1119
Author(s):  
Pamela F. Lloyd ◽  
Scott D. Walck
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
High Vacuum ◽  
Pulsed Laser ◽  
Ultra High Vacuum ◽  
Wear Testing ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Aerospace Applications

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a novel technique for the deposition of tribological thin films. MoS2 is the archetypical solid lubricant material for aerospace applications. It provides a low coefficient of friction from cryogenic temperatures to about 350°C and can be used in ultra high vacuum environments. The TEM is ideally suited for studying the microstructural and tribo-chemical changes that occur during wear. The normal cross sectional TEM sample preparation method does not work well because the material’s lubricity causes the sandwich to separate. Walck et al. deposited MoS2 through a mesh mask which gave suitable results for as-deposited films, but the discontinuous nature of the film is unsuitable for wear-testing. To investigate wear-tested, room temperature (RT) PLD MoS2 films, the sample preparation technique of Heuer and Howitt was adapted.Two 300 run thick films were deposited on single crystal NaCl substrates. One was wear-tested on a ball-on-disk tribometer using a 30 gm load at 150 rpm for one minute, and subsequently coated with a heavy layer of evaporated gold.

Introduction of a Novel Sample Preparation Technique for the Failure Analysis of Silicon Integrated Photonics Modules

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradip Sairam Pichumani ◽  
Fauzia Khatkhatay
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Silicon Photonics ◽  
Cmos Technology ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Oxide Semiconductor ◽  
Disruptive Technology ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Test Vehicle ◽  
Sample Preparation Technique

Abstract Silicon photonics is a disruptive technology that aims for monolithic integration of photonic devices onto the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology platform to enable low-cost high-volume manufacturing. Since the technology is still in the research and development phase, failure analysis plays an important role in determining the root cause of failures seen in test vehicle silicon photonics modules. The fragile nature of the test vehicle modules warrants the development of new sample preparation methods to facilitate subsequent non-destructive and destructive analysis methods. This work provides an example of a single step sample preparation technique that will reduce the turnaround time while simultaneously increasing the scope of analysis techniques.

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