Characterization of Second-Phase Inclusion in Silicon Carbide Powders

2015 ◽  
Vol 821-823 ◽  
pp. 100-103
Author(s):  
Ta Ching Hsiao ◽  
Shen Tsao ◽  
Sergey Nagalyuk ◽  
Evgeny Mokhov

A specific transition metal is used as a dopant element in silicon carbide powders to create the compensation effect. According to ab-initio simulation, vanadium, chromium, and manganese-induced compensation decrease the lifetime of the acceptor carrier and cause higher resistance when boron is the main impurity. Since the silicon carbide lattice has low solubility, excess metal precipitates on the surface of powders, particularly on the grain boundaries. The compositions of matrix and precipitation in the powders reveal obvious differences between the two areas. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows the structure of VSi2, which indicates the existence of a second phase. Dual-beam focused ion beam (DBFIB) is used to further analyze the geography inside the powders. A cross-section view by DBFIB shows a second phase in the grains with a composition similar to that in the grain boundary. Metal-doped silicon carbide powders are used as starting materials to conduct crystal growth with better dopant element distribution.

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 745-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Balach ◽  
Flavio Soldera ◽  
Diego F. Acevedo ◽  
Frank Mücklich ◽  
César A. Barbero

AbstractA new technique that allows direct three-dimensional (3D) investigations of mesopores in carbon materials and quantitative characterization of their physical properties is reported. Focused ion beam nanotomography (FIB-nt) is performed by a serial sectioning procedure with a dual beam FIB-scanning electron microscopy instrument. Mesoporous carbons (MPCs) with tailored mesopore size are produced by carbonization of resorcinol-formaldehyde gels in the presence of a cationic surfactant as a pore stabilizer. A visual 3D morphology representation of disordered porous carbon is shown. Pore size distribution of MPCs is determined by the FIB-nt technique and nitrogen sorption isotherm methods to compare both results. The obtained MPCs exhibit pore sizes of 4.7, 7.2, and 18.3 nm, and a specific surface area of ca. 560 m2/g.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Woodworth ◽  
Ali Sayir ◽  
Philip G. Neudeck ◽  
Balaji Raghothamachar ◽  
Michael Dudley

ABSTRACTCommercially available bulk silicon carbide (SiC) has a high number (>2000/cm2) of screw dislocations (SD) that have been linked to degradation of high-field power device electrical performance properties. Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center have proposed a method to mass-produce significantly higher quality bulk SiC. In order for this bulk growth method to become reality, growth of long single crystal SiC fibers must first be achieved. Therefore, a new growth method, Solvent-Laser Heated Floating Zone (Solvent-LHFZ), has been implemented. While some of the initial Solvent-LHFZ results have recently been reported, this paper focuses on further characterization of grown crystals and their growth fronts. To this end, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) depth profiles, cross section analysis by focused ion beam (FIB) milling and mechanical polishing, and orientation and structural characterization by X-ray transmission Laue diffraction patterns and X-ray topography were used. Results paint a picture of a chaotic growth front, with Fe incorporation dependant on C concentration.


2013 ◽  
Vol 655-657 ◽  
pp. 842-846
Author(s):  
Chen Ying Wang ◽  
Shu Ming Yang ◽  
Qi Jing Lin ◽  
Zhuang De Jiang

The accuracy and traceability of measurement at nano-scale are directly related to nano-fabrication. Nanostep is typical structure, so the measurement and characterization of nanosteps are important to improve the accuracy of nano-fabrication. This paper studies on the relationship between the morphologic features of nanosteps and the processing parameters of a dual beam Focused Ion Beam (FIB). Nanosteps are fabricated with different depth of 50nm and 30nm. The experimental results show the depths of the nanosteps are affected by the sequence of the process and the processing energy. Although the relationship between the depth and process duration is linear, the depths of the nanosteps are not consistent with the design. The dimensions of the nanosteps at different positions are not constant because of the varying slope of the bottom and sidewall. It is necessary to optimize the processing parameters to achieve the designed dimensions.


Author(s):  
Andreas Stierle ◽  
Thomas F. Keller ◽  
Heshmat Noei ◽  
Vedran Vonk ◽  
Ralf Roehlsberger

The DESY NanoLab is a facility providing access to nano-characterization, nano-structuring and nano-synthesis techniques which are complementary to the advanced X-ray techniques available at DESY’s light sources. It comprises state-of-the art scanning probe microscopy and focused ion beam manufacturing, as well as surface sensitive spectroscopy techniques for chemical analysis. Specialized laboratory x-ray diffraction setups are available for a successful sample pre-characterization before the precious synchrotron beamtimes. Future upgrades will include as well characterization of magnetic properties.


Author(s):  
E. Hendarto ◽  
S.L. Toh ◽  
J. Sudijono ◽  
P.K. Tan ◽  
H. Tan ◽  
...  

Abstract The scanning electron microscope (SEM) based nanoprobing technique has established itself as an indispensable failure analysis (FA) technique as technology nodes continue to shrink according to Moore's Law. Although it has its share of disadvantages, SEM-based nanoprobing is often preferred because of its advantages over other FA techniques such as focused ion beam in fault isolation. This paper presents the effectiveness of the nanoprobing technique in isolating nanoscale defects in three different cases in sub-100 nm devices: soft-fail defect caused by asymmetrical nickel silicide (NiSi) formation, hard-fail defect caused by abnormal NiSi formation leading to contact-poly short, and isolation of resistive contact in a large electrical test structure. Results suggest that the SEM based nanoprobing technique is particularly useful in identifying causes of soft-fails and plays a very important role in investigating the cause of hard-fails and improving device yield.


Author(s):  
Jian-Shing Luo ◽  
Hsiu Ting Lee

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.


Author(s):  
Dirk Doyle ◽  
Lawrence Benedict ◽  
Fritz Christian Awitan

Abstract Novel techniques to expose substrate-level defects are presented in this paper. New techniques such as inter-layer dielectric (ILD) thinning, high keV imaging, and XeF2 poly etch overflow are introduced. We describe these techniques as applied to two different defects types at FEOL. In the first case, by using ILD thinning and high keV imaging, coupled with focused ion beam (FIB) cross section and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM,) we were able to judge where to sample for TEM from a top down perspective while simultaneously providing the top down images giving both perspectives on the same sample. In the second case we show retention of the poly Si short after removal of CoSi2 formation on poly. Removal of the CoSi2 exposes the poly Si such that we can utilize XeF2 to remove poly without damaging gate oxide to reveal pinhole defects in the gate oxide. Overall, using these techniques have led to 1) increased chances of successfully finding the defects, 2) better characterization of the defects by having a planar view perspective and 3) reduced time in localizing defects compared to performing cross section alone.


Author(s):  
Steven B. Herschbein ◽  
Hyoung H. Kang ◽  
Scott L. Jansen ◽  
Andrew S. Dalton

Abstract Test engineers and failure analyst familiar with random access memory arrays have probably encountered the frustration of dealing with address descrambling. The resulting nonsequential internal bit cell counting scheme often means that the location of the failing cell under investigation is nowhere near where it is expected to be. A logical to physical algorithm for decoding the standard library block might have been provided with the design, but is it still correct now that the array has been halved and inverted to fit the available space in a new processor chip? Off-line labs have traditionally been tasked with array layout verification. In the past, hard and soft failures could be induced on the frontside of finished product, then bitmapped to see if the sites were in agreement. As density tightened, flip-chip FIB techniques to induce a pattern of hard fails on packaged devices came into practice. While the backside FIB edit method is effective, it is complex and expensive. The installation of an in-line Dual Beam FIB created new opportunities to move FA tasks out of the lab and into the FAB. Using a new edit procedure, selected wafers have an extensive pattern of defects 'written' directly into the memory array at an early process level. Bitmapping of the RAM blocks upon wafer completion is then used to verify correlation between the physical damaged cells and the logical sites called out in the test results. This early feedback in-line methodology has worked so well that it has almost entirely displaced the complex laboratory procedure of backside FIB memory array descramble verification.


Author(s):  
C.H. Wang ◽  
S.P. Chang ◽  
C.F. Chang ◽  
J.Y. Chiou

Abstract Focused ion beam (FIB) is a popular tool for physical failure analysis (FA), especially for circuit repair. FIB is especially useful on advanced technology where the FIB is used to modify the circuit for new layout verification or electrical measurement. The samples are prepared till inter-metal dielectric (IMD), then a hole is dug or a metal is deposited or oxide is deposited by FIB. A common assumption is made that metal under oxide can not be seen by FIB. But a metal ion image is desired for further action. Dual beam, FIB and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), tools have a special advantage. When switching back and forth from SEM to FIB the observation has been made that the metal lines can be imaged. The details of this technique will be discussed below.


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