Specific Process Knowledge/Characterization/Element analysis

From LabAdviser

Instruments at Danchip

You can make detailed analysis on the elemental composition and distribution in a sample with 4 instruments at Danchip. The Leo SEM and FEI SEM are both equipped with an X-ray detector that allows you to make elemental analysis by using the technique Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis or EDX. The Atomika SIMS uses a technique called Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry or SIMS. The XPS-ThermoScientific can be used for X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy measurements.


Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis

The technique of extracting information from the X-rays generated in a sample that is irradiated with electrons is called energy dispersive X-ray analysis or EDX. (Other acronyms are Energy Dispersive x-ray Spectroscopy, EDS, or Electron Probe Microanalysis, EPMA). The energetic electrons in the incident beam create core level vacancies as they collide with sample atoms electrons in a multiple scattering process. This leaves the atoms in the sample in an excited state. In the process of decaying from this state photons may be emitted. The energy of these photons is determined by the difference in energy of the shells involved. Since atomic shells are unique for every element so will be the transitions between them. Thus, every element has its own characteristic X-ray spectrum that can be used to determine the elemental composition.

Adding an EDX detector to a SEM provides a very powerful tool for elemental analysis. The capability of the SEM to precisely maneuver the electron beam in a number of ways enables us to make point-like analysis with nanometer precision.

  • The techniques EDX and SIMS
  • The high energy electrons in the beam (denoted above as incident particle) collide with the core electrons of the sample atoms that are left in an excited state with higher energy. One decay mechanism is to let an outer electron fall into the unoccupied state under emission of a photon that carries the excess energy. This energy is determined by the electronic shells and hence characteristic of the atom.
    The high energy electrons in the beam (denoted above as incident particle) collide with the core electrons of the sample atoms that are left in an excited state with higher energy. One decay mechanism is to let an outer electron fall into the unoccupied state under emission of a photon that carries the excess energy. This energy is determined by the electronic shells and hence characteristic of the atom.
  • A beam of high energy ions is rastered on the surface of the sample. Some of the atoms that used to make up the surface are sputtered off and emitted as secondary ions. The mass of the these ions is measured with a mass spectrometer.
    A beam of high energy ions is rastered on the surface of the sample. Some of the atoms that used to make up the surface are sputtered off and emitted as secondary ions. The mass of the these ions is measured with a mass spectrometer.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

In the Atomika SIMS the samples are bombarded with a beam of either oxygen or caesium ions. When accelerated to high energy and rastered across the sample these ions will be able to gradually sputter off the surface atoms in a small area defined by the raster pattern. Some of the surface atoms are emitted as ionized particles. In this way one layer after another is peeled off the sample.

These charged species are led through a mass spectrometer where a magnetic field is used to deflect them. The deflection increases with charge and decreases with mass and we are therefore able detect and count them according to their mass. This technique is called Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry or SIMS.

Comparison of EDX, SIMS and XPS

SEM with EDX SIMS XPS
Full name Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
Technique Non destructive method: X-rays are generated when the primary beam impinges on the sample. The elemental analysis is possible because the energy of these X-rays is characteristic of the element they emitted from. Destructive method: A beam of high energy heavy ions (caesium or oxygen) sputters off surface atoms that are subsequently measured with a mass spectrometer. Non destrucive method: X-rays are irridiating the sample, and the energy of edjected photoelectrons is measured. The elemental analysis is possible, since the binding energy of the electrons (and hence the energy of the emitted photoelectrons) are specific for each element.
What elements are detected Every element heavier than boron/carbon Every element
Chemical information None: Only transistions involving inner shell electrons are detected None
Sample limitations Vacuum compatible. Vacuum compatible. The sample needs to be cut into small (app. 5*5 mm) pieces.
Spatial resolution Very precise point-like analysis is possible with SEM electron beam. Limited to what is visible in a camera
Depth resolution The size interaction volume depends on the SEM high voltage and sample density: The higher the SEM high voltage the bigger and deeper the interaction volume. The more dense the material is the smaller is the interaction volume. See section 'Spatial resolution using EDX' below. The sputtering of the surface makes it possible to perform detailed depth profiling with extremely good sensitivity and depth resolution.
Detection limit Approximately 1 % atomic weight Down to 1 ppb for many elements
Speed of measurement Quite fast and easy Time consuming

Typical application of SIMS

SIMS is the most sensitive technique for elemental composition. It is therefore ideal if you want to check for a contamination.

A typical application would be to to check if a metal free chamber had been contaminated with, say, gold. In that case one would put three samples into the SIMS.

  • A bulk gold sample
  • A pristine wafer that has been processed in the contaminated chamber.
  • A clean sample that has definitely not been contaminated: A pristine wafer

All three samples are then exposed to the caesium beam and the count rate at the mass 196 atomic units (gold) is compared.

Spatial resolution using EDX

Using the the very fine beam of electrons from a SEM one is capable of making point-like elemental analysis of the sample. A multiple scattering process will occur when the incident electrons collide with the sample electrons. This process generates low energetic secondary electrons and it continues until the incident electrons have lost so much energy that they are not different from the secondary electrons. The volume of the sample inside which this process takes place is called the interaction volume. X-rays are generated throughout the interaction volume and we are therefore probing the whole volume when using the EDX detector.

Using some empirical equations one can calculate how the distribution of X-rays generated in the sample will be at certain high voltages. Below are shown the depth profiles of X-rays from silicon and gold when irradiated with 5-30 kV electrons.

  • Curves that show the depth of origin of the X-rays
  • The depth profiles of X-rays emerging from bulk silicon at different high voltages.
    The depth profiles of X-rays emerging from bulk silicon at different high voltages.
  • The depth profiles of X-rays emerging from bulk gold at different high voltages.
    The depth profiles of X-rays emerging from bulk gold at different high voltages.

It is seen that the trend is:

  • Increasing the high voltage gives rise to a bigger and deeper interaction volume and hence increases the depth which is probed.
  • Increasing the density of the sample material reduces the size and depth of the interaction volume - hence a more shallow layer is probed.
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