Participants: C. B. Clemons (Theo and Applied
Math), D. Golovaty (Theo and
Applied Math), G. W. Young
(Theo and Applied Math)
Scanned probe oxidation is a local surface oxidation
induced by an electrically biased Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) tip. The AFM
tip is typically a cone-shaped probe that is brought either close to or into
direct contact with a substrate. The probe is attached to the end of a
cantilever that bends as the tip moves across the substrate's surface. By
increasing the voltage bias between the tip and the surface, the tip acts as an
ion source that can be used to grow nanoscale oxide
features on the substrate.
More specifically, the close proximity of the AFM tip to
the substrate establishes an intense electric field. Water, due to condensation
from the ambient air and transport from a thin film on the substrate surface,
accumulates in the narrow gap capillary between the AFM tip and the substrate
to form a liquid bridge (meniscus). The free surface of water contacts the AFM
tip and the edge of the oxide or substrate. Hydroxyl ions are produced within
the water and are directed by the electric field within the fluid; these ions
subsequently react with the substrate to produce a thin oxide layer. Hereafter,
we refer to this entire system as a nanocell.
Hence, the AFM tip acts as a pen ``writing'' oxide patterns
on the substrate. These patterns have been employed successfully as an etch
mask for wet and dry processes, as mechanisms for device isolation and for
tunnel barrier formation, and as chemical and biological templates. Since most
metals, semiconductors, and even insulating thin films such as silicon nitride
can be oxidized within a nanocell, scanned probe
oxidation is a very general method for prototyping nanoscale
masks, templates, and devices. Hence, due to the generality of oxidation as
chemical process, the simplicity of the tools and techniques required for
producing nanometer-sized features, and the compatibility of the oxidation
process with the techniques used by the semiconductor industry, scanned probe
oxidation (SPO) using an atomic force microscope tip is a promising approach to
nanostructure fabrication.
We develop continuum models of scanned probe oxidation.
The models include equations describing the electric field, hydroxyl and hydrogen
ion concentrations, and the free boundary of the oxide. The equations track ion
transport in both the liquid and the oxide layers and incorporate the reaction
mechanism at the substrate/oxide interface. Further, the influence of the space
charge trapped near the substrate/oxide interface is taken into account. The
asymptotic limit in terms of a small aspect ratio of the oxide layer (height to
width) and separation of time scales for the reaction and ion transport are
used to reduce the governing system of partial differential equations to a
one-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations. The solution of the
reduced system of ordinary differential equations results in the evolution
equation for the oxide thickness. Numerical solution of the evolution equation
predicts features of oxide growth that qualitatively agree with the
experimental observations. A parametric study is conducted to determine the
influence of the key operating and material parameters on the thickness of the
oxide, and the electric and ion concentration fields in the system.
Currently we are developing an axisymmetric
continuum model for oxide growth by the scanned probe oxidation technique. Two
liquid configurations, semi-infinite layer and hemispherical drop of liquid,
are examined to determine the potential in the liquid region. The AFM tip is
modeled as either a point or ring source of charge. The asymptotic limit of a
small aspect ratio oxide feature (height to width) is used to reduce the
governing system of partial differential equations to a quasi-one-dimensional
system to determine the ion transport in the nanocell
system. The result of the model solution of the reduced system is an evolution
equation for the oxide thickness and radius. Numerical solution of the
evolution equation predicts features of oxide height and radial growth that
qualitatively agree with experimental observations. A parametric study is
conducted to determine the influence of key operating and material parameters
on the thickness and radius of the oxide dot, and the electric and ion
concentration fields in the system.
Publications
Funding