The role of ion-beam cleaning in the growth of strained-layer epitaxial thin transition metal films

1987 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung I. Park ◽  
A. Marshall ◽  
R. H. Hammond ◽  
T. H. Geballe ◽  
J. Talvacchio
Keyword(s):  
Tunnel Junctions ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Surface Damage ◽  
Metal Films ◽  
Strained Layer ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Lattice Matched

Low-energy ion-beam cleaning of the substrates prior to a deposition greatly enhances the quality of ultrathin (< 100 Å) refractory superconducting (Nb, V) films. Using this technique Nb films as thin as 7 Å have been grown, from which good tunnel junctions have been fabricated. Both the native films and the tunnel junctions are sturdy and can be thermally recycled without any degradation. In-situ surface study along with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results suggest the removal of the carbon atoms from the surface of the substrate without an apparent surface damage as the causes of the improvement. The TEM results indicate that the Nb films grow perfectly lattice matched to the sapphire substrate when the substrate is ion-beam cleaned. This strained-layer epitaxy is observed up to 40 Å, the maximum thickness investigated through TEM.

scholarly journals Automated cryo-lamella preparation for high-throughput in-situ structural biology

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genevieve Buckley ◽  
Gediminas Gervinskas ◽  
Cyntia Taveneau ◽  
Hari Venugopal ◽  
James C. Whisstock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Structural Biology ◽  
Focused Ion Beam ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Automated Method ◽  
Cellular Environment ◽  
Transmission Electron

AbstractCryo-transmission electron tomography (cryo-ET) in association with cryo-focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) milling enables structural biology studies to be performed directly within the cellular environment. Cryo-preserved cells are milled and a lamella with a thickness of 200-300 nm provides an electron transparent window suitable for cryo-ET imaging. Cryo-FIB milling is an effective method, but it is a tedious and time-consuming process, which typically results in ~10 lamellae per day. Here, we introduce an automated method to reproducibly prepare cryo-lamellae on a grid and reduce the amount of human supervision. We tested the routine on cryo-preserved Saccharomyces cerevisiae and demonstrate that this method allows an increased throughput, achieving a rate of 5 lamellae/hour without the need to supervise the FIB milling. We demonstrate that the quality of the lamellae is consistent throughout the preparation and their compatibility with cryo-ET analyses.

Growth of MBE-Codeposited IrSi3 on Si(111) and Si(100)

1994 ◽  
Vol 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary A. Gibson ◽  
Davis A. Lange ◽  
Charles M. Falco
Keyword(s):  
Ion Beam ◽  
Silicide Phase ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Energy Electron Diffraction ◽  
Growth Modes ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Low Energy Electron

AbstractWe have used Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) to successfully grow films that are predominantly IrSi3 on both Si(111) and Si(100) substrates by codeposition of Si and Ir in a 3:1 ratio. Bragg-Brentano and Seemann-Bohlin x-ray diffraction reveal that polycrystalline IrSi3 films form as low as 450 °C. This is the lowest temperature yet reported for growth of this iridium silicide phase. These x-ray diffraction techniques, along with Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) diffraction and in situ Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED), show that at higher deposition temperatures codeposition can form IrSi3 films on Si(111) that consist predominantly of a single epitaxial growth orientation. Ion beam channeling and x-ray rocking curves show that the epitaxial quality of IrSi3 films deposited on Si(111) is superior to that of IrSi3 films deposited on Si(100). We also present evidence for several new epitaxial IrSi3 growth modes on Si(111) and Si(100).

Orientational and Microstructural Evolution During Epitaxial Growth of Cu on Si(001) by Sputter Deposition

1992 ◽  
Vol 280 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Hashim ◽  
B. Park ◽  
H. A. Atwater
Keyword(s):  
Epitaxial Growth ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Sputter Deposition ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Plan View ◽  
Transmission Electron

ABSTRACTEpitaxial Cu thin films have been grown on H-terminated Si(OOl) substrates at room temperature by D.C. ion-beam sputter deposition in ultrahigh vacuum. The development of orientation and microstructure during epitaxial growth from the initial stages of Cu growth up to Cu thicknesses of few hundred nm has been investigated. Analysis by in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction, thin film x-ray diffraction, and plan-view and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy indicates that the films are well textured with Cu(001)∥ Si(001) and Cu[100]∥ Si[110]. Interestingly, it is found that a distribution of orientations occurs at the early stages of Cu epitaxy on Si(001) surface, and that a (001) texture emerges gradually with increasing Cu thickness. The effect of silicide formation and deposition conditions on the crystalline quality of Cu epitaxy is also discussed.

Low-Energy Focused Ion Beam Milling Provides Reduced Damage During TEM Sample Preparation

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Roussel
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Focused Ion Beam ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Surface Damage ◽  
Thin Sample ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Damage Depth ◽  
Tem Grid ◽  
Thin Samples

The combined focused ion beam (FIB) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), known as the DualBeam, is well-known for its unique ability to produce site-specific thin samples starting from bulk and then attaching the section to a transmission electron microscope (TEM) grid, all in-situ. It has been reported that producing a thin sample using a 30 kV gallium FIB creates surface damage several tens of nanometers deep. However, recent DualBeam technology improvements now enable the FIB to produce thin samples with a thickness well below 50 nanometers and deliver a tightly focused ion beam at an energy of 2 kV and below, which dramatically reduces the damage depth to as low as 1 to 2 nanometers in typical materials, such as silicon.

In situ TEM measurements of the electrical properties of interface dislocations

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1338-1339
Author(s):  
F. M. Ross ◽  
R. Hull ◽  
D. Bahnck ◽  
J. C. Bean ◽  
L. J. Peticolas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
In Situ Tem ◽  
Device Performance ◽  
Misfit Dislocations ◽  
Electrical Characteristics ◽  
Strained Layer ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Interfacial Dislocations

We describe an investigation of the electrical properties of interfacial dislocations in strained layer heterostructures. We have been measuring both the structural and electrical characteristics of strained layer p-n junction diodes simultaneously in a transmission electron microscope, enabling us to correlate changes in the electrical characteristics of a device with the formation of dislocations.The presence of dislocations within an electronic device is known to degrade the device performance. This degradation is of increasing significance in the design and processing of novel strained layer devices which may require layer thicknesses above the critical thickness (hc), where it is energetically favourable for the layers to relax by the formation of misfit dislocations at the strained interfaces. In order to quantify how device performance is affected when relaxation occurs we have therefore been investigating the electrical properties of dislocations at the p-n junction in Si/GeSi diodes.

Optimizing Gas-Assisted FIB Processes: The Importance of Oft-Ignored Secondary Parameters

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Rue ◽  
S. Herschbein ◽  
C. Scrudato ◽  
L. Fischer ◽  
A. Shore
Keyword(s):  
Focused Ion Beam ◽  
Vacuum Chamber ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Metal Films ◽  
Deposited Metal ◽  
Influence Process ◽  
Focused Beams ◽  
Gas Pressures

Abstract The efficiency of Gas-Assisted Etching (GAE) and depositions performed using the Focused Ion Beam (FIB) technique is subject to numerous factors. Besides the wellknown primary parameters recommended by the FIB manufacturer (pixel spacing, dwell time, and gas pressures), certain secondary factors can also have a pronounced effect on the quality of these gas-assisted FIB operations. The position of the gas delivery nozzle during XeF2 mills on silicon is examined and was found to affect both the milling speed and the texture on the floor of the FIB trench. Limitations arising from the memory capacity of the FIB computer can also influence process times and trench quality. Exposing the FIB vacuum chamber to TMCTS during SiO2 depositions is found to temporarily impede the performance of subsequent tungsten depositions, especially following heavy or prolonged TMCTS exposure. A delay period may be required to achieve optimal tungsten depositions following TMCTS use. Finally, the focusing conditions of the ion beam are found to have a significant impact on the resistance of FIB-deposited metal films. This effect is attributed to partial milling of the deposition film due to the intense current density of the collimated ion beam. The resistances of metal depositions performed with intentionally defocused ion beams were found to be lower than those performed with focused beams.

To Eliminate Curtain Effect of FIB TEM Samples by a Combination of Sample Dicing and Backside Milling

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Shing Luo ◽  
Hsiu Ting Lee
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Focused Ion Beam ◽  
Preparation Method ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Sample Preparation Method ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Dual Beam ◽  
Transmission Electron

Abstract Several methods are used to invert samples 180 deg in a dual beam focused ion beam (FIB) system for backside milling by a specific in-situ lift out system or stages. However, most of those methods occupied too much time on FIB systems or requires a specific in-situ lift out system. This paper provides a novel transmission electron microscopy (TEM) sample preparation method to eliminate the curtain effect completely by a combination of backside milling and sample dicing with low cost and less FIB time. The procedures of the TEM pre-thinned sample preparation method using a combination of sample dicing and backside milling are described step by step. From the analysis results, the method has applied successfully to eliminate the curtain effect of dual beam FIB TEM samples for both random and site specific addresses.

scholarly journals Direct Characterization of the Relation between the Mechanical Response and Microstructure Evolution in Aluminum by Transmission Electron Microscopy In Situ Straining

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1431
Author(s):  
Seiichiro Ii ◽  
Takero Enami ◽  
Takahito Ohmura ◽  
Sadahiro Tsurekawa
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Elastic Behavior ◽  
Annealed Specimen ◽  
Displacement Curve ◽  
Dislocation Loops ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Stress Drops

Transmission electron microscopy in situ straining experiments of Al single crystals with different initial lattice defect densities have been performed. The as-focused ion beam (FIB)-processed pillar sample contained a high density of prismatic dislocation loops with the <111> Burgers vector, while the post-annealed specimen had an almost defect-free microstructure. In both specimens, plastic deformation occurred with repetitive stress drops (∆σ). The stress drops were accompanied by certain dislocation motions, suggesting the dislocation avalanche phenomenon. ∆σ for the as-FIB Al pillar sample was smaller than that for the post-annealed Al sample. This can be considered to be because of the interaction of gliding dislocations with immobile prismatic dislocation loops introduced by the FIB. The reloading process after stress reduction was dominated by elastic behavior because the slope of the load–displacement curve for reloading was close to the Young’s modulus of Al. Microplasticity was observed during the load-recovery process, suggesting that microyielding and a dislocation avalanche repeatedly occurred, leading to intermittent plasticity as an elementary step of macroplastic deformation.

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