Method for Removal of Matter

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a method of uniformly removing material from a sample surface by sputtering by means of scanning the surface with a focused ion beam and a simultaneous observing of the sample during sputtering. Uniform sputtering of different materials is achieved by high-angle sputtering from multiple directions, wherein the directions are rotated relative to each other by a non-zero angle.

Claims

1. A method for removal of matter from a selected area on a sample of a semiconductor device comprised of at least two components of different sputtering rates by sputtering by means of scanning a surface of the sample by a focused ion beam, wherein the selected area is sputtered from at least two different sputtering directions such that in the first step, the sample is placed in a first position relative to the focused ion beam and the selected area is sputtered in the first sputtering direction by the focused ion beam; in at least one further step, the sample is placed in a second position relative to the focused ion beam and the selected area is sputtered in the second sputtering direction by the focused ion beam; and that the change of position of the sample relative to the focused ion beam takes place by turning the sample around a normal of the selected area; wherein the first sputtering direction and the second sputtering direction are rotated relative to one another by an angle ?; and at the same time an angle ? that is formed by the normal of the selected area with an axis of the device is greater than 70 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees.

2. (canceled)

3. A method for removal of matter according to claim 1 wherein size of the angle ? is the same in all positions.

4. A method for removal of matter according to claim 1 wherein the selected area is sputtered from at least four directions.

5. A method for removal of matter according to claim 1 wherein at least 2 sputtering directions are rotated relative to one another by the angle ? of 45 degrees.

6. A method for removal of matter according to claim 1 wherein the change of the sample position of the device relative to the focused ion beam is carried out while simultaneously sputtering by scanning the sample surface with the focused ion beam.

7. (canceled)

8. A method for removal of matter according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of signal particles generated during the sputtering is detected on a detector and an image of the sample surface is generated from the signal obtained.

9. A method for removal of matter according to claim 1 wherein the sample surface is scanned by the electron beam and the generated signal particles are filtered, and the back scattered electrons are detected on the detector and an image of the sample surface is generated from the signal obtained.

10. A method for removal of matter according to claim 9 wherein displaying the selected area by detecting at least a portion of signal electrons takes place in an uninterrupted manner throughout the entire time of the sample sputtering by the focused ion beam.

11. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 A device for carrying out the invention

[0016] FIG. 2 Sputtering of the sample with two components

[0017] FIG. 3 A method of carrying out the invention

[0018] FIG. 4 Another method of carrying out the invention

[0019] FIG. 5 Exemplary results of carrying out the invention

[0020] FIG. 6 A device for carrying out the invention comprising a detector

[0021] FIG. 7 A device for carrying out the invention comprising a scanning electron microscope

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a device for carrying out the invention. The device includes an ion column 1 for generating and guiding a focused ion beam having an axis 2. Along the axis 2, a focused ion beam can be propagated towards a sample 3. The sample 3 may be, for example, a semiconductor device. The sample 3 is located on a sample holder 4 which can be separable or inseparable from a stage 5. The stage 5 and the ionic column 1 are at least partially located within a vacuum chamber 16. Further, the stage 5 is provided with a movement mechanism allowing a rotary movement about a normal 6 of the sample 3 surface. The normal 6 of the sample 3 surface forms an angle ? with the axis 2, which angle may be in the range of 70 to 90 degrees. As a rule, the higher the alpha angle, the flatter the surface can be achieved. From this point of view, the angle ? of approximately 87 degrees appears to be the most preferable.

[0023] FIG. 2a is a schematic representation of sputtering of sample 3 in the first direction. Sample 3 includes components 7a, 7b with a higher sputtering rate, and a component 8 with a lower sputtering rate. While sputtering in the first direction, the component 7a with a higher sputtering rate is sputtered faster than component 8 with a lower sputtering rate. The component 7b with a higher sputtering rate is shielded by component 8 with a lower sputtering rate, and although it has a higher sputtering rate than the component 8 with a lower sputtering rate, it is removed at approximately the same rate as the component 8 with a lower sputtering rate.

[0024] FIG. 2b is a schematic representation of the next step of sputtering the sample 3, i.e., sputtering in the second direction. The sample contains two components 7a, 7b with a higher sputtering rate, and a component 8 with a lower sputtering rate. The component 7b with a higher sputtering rate is sputtered faster than component 8 with a lower sputtering rate. On the contrary, the component 7a with a higher sputtering rate is shielded by the component 8 with a lower sputtering rate and sputtering almost does not occur until the component 8 with a lower sputtering rate is sputtered down to approximately the level of the component 7a with a higher sputtering rate.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment wherein a first scanning area 9a of a sample 3 located on a sample holder 4 is in a first step sputtered by a focused ion beam in a first sputtering direction 2a. In the second step, the sample 3 is placed in a second position and a second scanning area 9b is sputtered in a second sputtering direction 2b, wherein sputtering directions 2a, 2b are the projections of an axis 2 of the focused ion beam into a plane perpendicular to a normal 6 of the sample 3 surface and forming an angle ? of 45 degrees. Selected area 10 is located at the intersection of the scanning areas 9a, 9b.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment in which a sample 3 is sputtered by focused ion beam sequentially from eight different sputtering directions 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h. These sputtering directions 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h form an angle ? of 45 degrees or its multiples between each other.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows some of the possible results 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e, 11f of invention embodiments. A sample 3 is located on a sample holder 4, which allows, in addition to rotation around a normal 6, shift in the direction of x and y axes. Axes x, y are perpendicular to one another. The shift and rotation of the sample holder 4 or the stage 5 enable easy creation of more discrete selected areas 10 on the sample 3.

[0028] In the result 11a of the embodiment, the sample 3 is sputtered in 4 directions, which form multiples of angle ? of 90 degrees with one another.

[0029] In another result 11b of the embodiment, the sample 3 is sputtered in 4 directions, the first direction with the second direction and the third direction with the fourth direction forming angle ? of 45 degrees with one another, and the second direction with the third direction and the fourth direction with the first direction forming angle ? of 135 degrees.

[0030] In another result 11c of the embodiment, the sample 3 is sputtered in 6 directions, the first direction with the second direction, the third direction with the fourth direction, the fourth direction with the fifth direction and the sixth direction with the first direction forming angle ? of 30 degrees between one another and the second direction with the third direction and the fifth direction with the sixth direction forming the angle ? of 120 degrees.

[0031] In another result 11d of the embodiment, the sample 3 is sputtered in 6 directions, which form multiples of angle ? of 60 degrees between one another.

[0032] In another result 11e of the embodiment, the sample 3 is sputtered in 10 directions, which form multiples of angle ? of 36 degrees between one another.

[0033] In another result 11f of the embodiment, the sample 3 is sputtered continuously during the rotation of the sample 3 around the normal 6 of the respective point in the selected area 10.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of another device for carrying out the invention. The device is, unlike the device in FIG. 1, additionally provided with a detector 13 of signal particles 12. The detector 13 is located inside a vacuum chamber 16. Signal particles 12, which are formed by sputtering the sample 3 surface with the focused ion beam, can be detected by the detector 13. Signal particles 12 on the detector 13 generate a signal, which is converted to the image of the sample 3 surface by technical means 14 for evaluation and display of the signal. Thus, sample 3 can be observed during sputtering. Signal particles 12 may be secondary ions or ion-induced secondary electrons.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of another device for carrying out the invention. Unlike the embodiment in FIG. 6, the device comprises a scanning electron microscope 15 allowing forming an electron beam and directing it to sample 3 along an axis 17 of the electron microscope 15. The scanning electron microscope 15 further allows to deflect the electron beam from the axis 17 of the electron microscope 15 and to scan it over the sample 3 surface. Upon contact with the sample 3, the electron beam forms signal particles 12, consisting mainly of secondary electrons 18, back scattered electrons 19 and others. In the embodiment of the device according to FIG. 7, a detector 13 of signal particles 12 is further located within the column of the scanning electron microscope 15. The detector 13 is preceded by a filtration device 20, which in this case is a grid connected to a voltage source, allowing to divide signal particles 12 so that only back scattered electrons 19 can reach the detector 13 while secondary electrons 18 are deflected by the filtration device 20. Back scattered electrons 19 can thus be detected even when scanning by scanning electron microscope 15 and simultaneous sputtering by means of focused ion beam.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0036] 1Ion column [0037] 2Axis [0038] 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2hSputtering direction [0039] 3Sample [0040] 4Sample holder [0041] 5Stage [0042] 6Normal of the selected area [0043] 7a, 7b component with a higher sputtering rate [0044] 8component with a lower sputtering rate [0045] 9, 9a, 9bScanning area [0046] 10Selected area [0047] 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e, 11fEmbodiment result [0048] 12Signal particle [0049] 13Detector [0050] 14Technical means for evaluation and display. [0051] 15Scanning electron microscope [0052] 16Vacuum chamber [0053] 17Axis of the electron microscope [0054] 18Secondary electrons [0055] 19Back scattered electrons [0056] 20Filtration device