Abstract:
A method for TEM sample preparation with backside milling of a sample extracted from a workpiece in an energetic-beam instrument is disclosed, where the energetic-beam instrument comprises: a focused ion beam, a stage capable of motion and tilting, a TEM grid held in a fixed holder on the stage, the TEM grid having a plane and the holder mounted in a fixed orientation with respect to the stage, and a probe tip rotatably connected to a nanomanipulator; the sample having a top surface and a backside and a required plane for the TEM sample that is normal to the top surface of the sample, and the sample being attached to the probe tip; the method comprising: rotating the probe tip by an angle calculated according to the geometry of the apparatus; moving the stage to position the TEM grid so that the plane of the TEM grid is substantially parallel to the required plane for the TEM sample; attaching the extracted sample to the TEM grid and removing the attachment of the probe tip to the extracted sample; and, tilting the stage by a stage-tilt angle, while maintaining the holder in the fixed orientation with respect to the stage, so that the axis of the ion beam is made substantially parallel to the required plane for the TEM sample; thereby placing the extracted sample into position for allowing backside milling by the focused ion beam to prepare a thinned cross-sectional sample for TEM viewing.
Abstract:
The application deals with the method and apparatus for specimen processing in an apparatus with two or more particle beams, where the milled side (4.1 ) of the specimen is processed by the first particle beam and observed by the second particle beam. Specimen (4) is first milled by the first particle beam in the first position of the specimen and after this, the milled side (4.1 ) tilts in the second position around the axis (3) of the tilt of the specimen (4) where another milling is performed. Milling can also be performed during continuous tilting of the specimen (4) around the axis (3). The axis (3) of the tilt of the specimen (4) intersects the milled side (4.1 ). In all aforementioned positions of the specimen (4), the second particle beam impinges on the milled side (4.1 ), which enables to monitor the milling in real time.
Abstract:
A method for preparing an integrated circuit or iincro-electo-mechanical system chip sample for ion cross-section polishing is provided. The method includes preparing a polymer coating formulation. The polymer coating formulation includes a novolac epoxy resin, a bisphenol-A/epichlorhydrin epoxy resin, a photoacid generator, an adhesion promoter, and a mixture of acetophenone, cyclohexanone and butyrolactone organic solvents. The integrated circuit or micro-electro -mechanical system chip sample is encapsulated by the polymer coating formulation, wherein the chip sample is then ready for ion beam cross-section polishing. A cross-section sample of integrated circuit or micro-electro-mechanicai system chip is prepared by polishing the obtained polymer encapsulated integrated circuit or micro-electro-mechanical system chip with ion beam cross-section polisher. The disclosed method allows the cross-section sample to be obtained at a reduced polishing time. Moreover, a good quality and larger cross-sectional area of the sample is obtained, thus allowing for accurate inspection or analysis of the integrated circuit or micro-electro-mechanical system chip.
Abstract:
Curtaining artifacts on high aspect ratio features are reduced by reducing the distance between a protective layer and feature of interest. For example, the ion beam can mill at an angle to the work piece surface to create a sloped surface. A protective layer is deposited onto the sloped surface, and the ion beam mills through the protective layer to expose the feature of interest for analysis. The sloped mill positions the protective layer close to the feature of interest to reduce curtaining.
Abstract:
An improved method of preparing ultra-thin TEM samples that combines backside thinning with an additional cleaning step to remove surface defects on the FIB-facing substrate surface. This additional step results in the creation of a cleaned, uniform hardmask that controls the ultimate results of the sample thinning, and allows for reliable and robust preparation of samples having thicknesses down to the 10nm range.
Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus for S/TEM sample preparation and analysis. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods for TEM sample creation, especially for small geometry (