Imaging micro-twin distributions in as-grown CVD diamond films with TEM

Author(s):  
Z.L. Wang ◽  
L.L. Horton ◽  
R.E. Clausing ◽  
L. Heatherly ◽  
J. Bentley

Fractured edges of diamond films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have been examined directly in a conventional transmission electron microscope (TEM) without thinning, An important advantage of the fracture specimen preparation technique is that the microstructures in the diamond grains at the growth face can be characterized directly by bright-field (BF) and dark-field (DF) TEM imaging and diffraction. Additionally, the topography of the same region can be directly determined from secondary electron (SE) images available in the same TEM.

Author(s):  
Z.L. Wang ◽  
J. Bentley ◽  
R.E. Clausing ◽  
L. Heatherly ◽  
L.L. Horton

Microstructural studies by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of diamond films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) usually involve tedious specimen preparation. This process has been avoided with a technique that is described in this paper. For the first time, thick as-grown diamond films have been examined directly in a conventional TEM without thinning. With this technique, the important microstructures near the growth surface have been characterized. An as-grown diamond film was fractured on a plane containing the growth direction. It took about 5 min to prepare a sample. For TEM examination, the film was tilted about 30-45° (see Fig. 1). Microstructures of the diamond grains on the top edge of the growth face can be characterized directly by transmitted electron bright-field (BF) and dark-field (DF) images and diffraction patterns.


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):  
L. Gandolfi ◽  
J. Reiffel

Calculations have been performed on the contrast obtainable, using the Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope, in the observation of thick specimens. Recent research indicates a revival of an earlier interest in the observation of thin specimens with the view of comparing the attainable contrast using both types of specimens.Potential for biological applications of scanning transmission electron microscopy has led to a proliferation of the literature concerning specimen preparation methods and the controversy over “to stain or not to stain” in combination with the use of the dark field operating mode and the same choice of technique using bright field mode of operation has not yet been resolved.


Author(s):  
M. Talianker ◽  
D.G. Brandon

A new specimen preparation technique for visualizing macromolecules by conventional transmission electron microscopy has been developed. In this technique the biopolymer-molecule is embedded in a thin monocrystalline gold foil. Such embedding can be performed in the following way: the biopolymer is deposited on an epitaxially-grown thin single-crystal gold film. The molecule is then occluded by further epitaxial growth. In such an epitaxial sandwich an occluded molecule is expected to behave as a crystal-lattice defect and give rise to contrast in the electron microscope.The resolution of the method should be limited only by the precision with which the epitaxially grown gold reflects the details of the molecular structure and, in favorable cases, can approach the lattice resolution limit.In order to estimate the strength of the contrast due to the void-effect arising from occlusion of the DNA-molecule in a gold crystal some calculations were performed.


Author(s):  
N. David Theodore ◽  
Mamoru Tomozane ◽  
Ming Liaw

There is extensive interest in SiGe for use in heterojunction bipolar transistors. SiGe/Si superlattices are also of interest because of their potential for use in infrared detectors and field-effect transistors. The processing required for these materials is quite compatible with existing silicon technology. However, before SiGe can be used extensively for devices, there is a need to understand and then control the origin and behavior of defects in the materials. The present study was aimed at investigating the structural quality of, and the behavior of defects in, graded SiGe layers grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).The structures investigated in this study consisted of Si1-xGex[x=0.16]/Si1-xGex[x= 0.14, 0.13, 0.12, 0.10, 0.09, 0.07, 0.05, 0.04, 0.005, 0]/epi-Si/substrate heterolayers grown by CVD. The Si1-xGex layers were isochronally grown [t = 0.4 minutes per layer], with gas-flow rates being adjusted to control composition. Cross-section TEM specimens were prepared in the 110 geometry. These were then analyzed using two-beam bright-field, dark-field and weak-beam images. A JEOL JEM 200CX transmission electron microscope was used, operating at 200 kV.


1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 1591-1594 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Hetherington ◽  
C. J. H. Wort ◽  
P. Southworth

The crystalline perfection of microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposited (MPACVD) diamond films grown under various conditions has been examined by TEM. Most CVD diamond films thus far reported contain a high density of defects, predominantly twins and stacking faults on {111} planes. We show that under appropriate growth conditions, these planar defects are eliminated from the center of the crystallites, and occur only at grain boundaries where the growing crystallites meet.


2001 ◽  
Vol 680 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Yun ◽  
P. Visconti ◽  
K. M. Jones ◽  
A. A. Baski ◽  
H. Morkoç ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTInversion domains (IDs) in III-nitride semiconductors degrade the performance of such devices, and so their identification and elimination is critical.An inversion domain on a Ga- polarity samples appears as an N-polarity domain, which has a polarization reversed with respect to the rest of the surface and therefore has a different surface potential. Surface-contact-potential electric force microscopy (SCP-EFM) is an extension of atomic force microscopy (AFM) that allows imaging of the surface electrostatic potential. Previously, we established the particular mode of operation necessary to identify inversion domains on III-nitrides using a control sample. We have now studied inversion domains in GaN films grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The existence of inversion domains was also verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using multiple dark field imaging. In MOCVD grown GaN, we found predominant Ga-polarity with very low density of IDs, while in the MBE GaN, a mix polarity feature was identified.


1999 ◽  
Vol 588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Takeuchi ◽  
Hideyuki Watanabe ◽  
Sadanori Yamanaka ◽  
Hideyo Okushi ◽  
Koji Kajimura ◽  
...  

AbstractThe band-A emission (around 2.8 eV) observed in high quality (device-grade) homoepitaxial diamond films grown by microwave-plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was studied by means of scanning cathodoluminescence spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Recent progress in our study on homoepitaxial diamond films was obtained through the low CH4/H2 conditions by CVD. These showed atomically flat surfaces and the excitonic emission at room temperature, while the band-A emission (2.95 eV) decreased. Using these samples, we found that the band-A emission only appeared at unepitaxial crystallites (UC) sites, while other flat surface parts still showed the excitonic emission. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that there were grain boundaries which contained π-bonds in UC. This indicates that one of the origin of the band-A emission in diamond films is attributed to π bonds of grain boundaries.


2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Beanland

AbstractCross-section transmission electron microscope (TEM) specimen preparation of Ill-V materials using conventional methods can be a painful and time-consuming activity, with a day or more from receipt of a sample to examination in the TEM being the norm. This article describes the cross-section TEM specimen preparation technique used at Bookham Caswell. The usual time from start to finish is <1 hour. Up to 10 samples can be prepared at once, depending upon sample type. Most of the tools used are widely available and inexpensive, making the technique ideal for use in institutions with limited resources.


1989 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Hoff ◽  
A. A. Morrish ◽  
W. A. Carrington ◽  
J. E. Butler ◽  
B. B. Rath

ABSTRACTDiamond thin films have been synthesized at low pressures by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and, recently, at ambient atmosphere with an oxygen-acetylene welding torch. By the application of appropriate thermal or mechanical stresses to the substrate, the diamond films can be delaminated. The delaminated films which are only a few microns thick have been fractured by manual bending. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of fractured CVD diamond films shows the presence of primarily intragranular fracture attesting to the inherent strength of the films. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), twinning and stacking faults are seen within the crystallites of the films along the fracture surfaces. By combining SEM and TEM examination, the relative degree of intragranular fracture found in films synthesized by both CVD and oxygen-acetylene torch has been investigated. Possible mechanisms for the intragranular fracture and the relative strength of such films are discussed.


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