Title

The correlation between ion beam/material interactions and practical FIB specimen preparation

Authors

Authors

B. I. Prenitzer; C. A. Urbanik-Shannon; L. A. Giannuzzi; S. R. Brown; R. B. Irwin; T. L. Shofner;F. A. Stevie

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Microsc. microanal.

Keywords

focused ion beam; redeposition TEM specimen preparation; ion solid; interactions; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY; LIFT-OUT TECHNIQUE; SEMICONDUCTOR-LASER DIODES; MONTE-CARLO SIMULATION; SAMPLE PREPARATION; BEAM; TEM; COMBINATION; SURFACE; SOLIDS; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary; Microscopy

Abstract

The focused ion beam (FIB) tool has been successfully used as both a stand alone analytical instrument and a means to prepare specimens for subsequent analysis by SEM, TEM, SIMS, XPS, and AUGER. In this work, special emphasis is given to TEM specimen preparation by the FIB lift-out technique. The fundamental ion/solid interactions that govern the FIB milling process are examined and discussed with respect to the preparation of electron transparent membranes. TRIM, a Monte Carlo simulation code, is used to physically model variables that influence FIB sputtering behavior. The results of such computer generated models are compared with empirical observations in a number of materials processed with an FEI 611 FIB workstation. The roles of incident ion attack angle, beam current, trench geometry, raster pattern, and target-material-dependent removal rates are considered. These interrelationships are used to explain observed phenomena and predict expected milling behaviors, thus increasing the potential for the FIB to be used more efficiently with reproducible results.

Journal Title

Microscopy and Microanalysis

Volume

9

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

216

Last Page

236

WOS Identifier

WOS:000183119200005

ISSN

1431-9276

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