J. Semicond. > 2014, Volume 35 > Issue 8 > 081001

INVITED REVIEW PAPERS

In situ TEM/SEM electronic/mechanical characterization of nano material with MEMS chip

Yuelin Wang, Tie Li, Xiao Zhang, Hongjiang Zeng and Qinhua Jin

+ Author Affiliations

 Corresponding author: Wang Yuelin, Email:ylwang@mail.sim.ac.cn

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/8/081001

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Abstract: Our investigation of in situ observations on electronic and mechanical properties of nano materials using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with the help of traditional micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology has been reviewed. Thanks to the stability, continuity and controllability of the loading force from the electrostatic actuator and the sensitivity of the sensor beam, a MEMS tensile testing chip for accurate tensile testing in the nano scale is obtained. Based on the MEMS chips, the scale effect of Young's modulus in silicon has been studied and confirmed directly in a tensile experiment using a transmission electron microscope. Employing the nanomanipulation technology and FIB technology, Cu and SiC nanowires have been integrated into the tensile testing device and their mechanical, electronic properties under different stress have been achieved, simultaneously. All these will aid in better understanding the nano effects and contribute to the designation and application in nano devices.

Key words: MEMS, nanoscale, tensile, in situ, TEM/SEM



[1]
Namazu T, Isono Y, Tanaka T. Evaluation of size effect on mechanical properties of single crystal silicon by nanoscale bending test using AFM. J Microelectromech Syst, 2000, 9:450 doi: 10.1109/84.896765
[2]
Jin Q H, Li T, Wang Y L, et al. Young's modulus size effect of SCS nanobeam by tensile testing in electron microscopy. IEEE SENSORS Conf, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2009:205 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=5398190
[3]
Li D, Wu Y, Kim P, et al. Thermal conductivity of individual silicon nanowires. Appl Phys Lett, 2003, 83:2934 doi: 10.1063/1.1616981
[4]
He R, Yang P. Giant piezoresistance effect in silicon nanowires. Nature Nanotechnol, 2006, 1:42 doi: 10.1038/nnano.2006.53
[5]
Ma D D D, Lee C S, Au F C K, et al. Small-diameter silicon nanowire surfaces. Science, 2003, 299:1874 doi: 10.1126/science.1080313
[6]
Bell D J, Lu T J, Fleck N A, et al. MEMS actuators and sensors:observations on their performance and selection for purpose. J Micromech Microeng, 2005, 15:S153 doi: 10.1088/0960-1317/15/7/022
[7]
Kiuchi M, Matsui S, Isono Y. Mechanical characteristics of FIB deposited carbon nanowires using an electrostatic actuated nano tensile testing device. J Microelectromech Syst, 2007, 16:191 doi: 10.1109/JMEMS.2006.889663
[8]
Haque M, Saif M. In-situ tensile testing of nano-scale specimens in SEM and TEM Exp. Mech. 2002, 42:123 https://experts.illinois.edu/en/publications/in-situ-tensile-testing-of-nano-scale-specimens-in-sem-and-tem
[9]
Han J H, Saif M T. In situ microtensile stage for electromechanical characterization of nanoscale freestanding films. Rev Sci Instrum, 2006, 77:045102 doi: 10.1063/1.2188368
[10]
Zhu Y, Espinosa H D. An electromechanical material testing system for in situ electron microscopy and applications. P Natl Acad Sci USA, 2005, 102:14503 doi: 10.1073/pnas.0506544102
[11]
Zhu Y, Ke C, Espinosa H D. Experimental techniques for the mechanical characterization of one-dimensional nanostructures. Exp Mech, 2007, 47:7 doi: 10.1007/s11340-006-0406-6
[12]
Peng B, Locascio M, Zapol P, et al. Measurements of near-ultimate strength for multiwalled carbon nanotubes and irradiation-induced crosslinking improvements. Nature Nanotechnol, 2008, 3:626 doi: 10.1038/nnano.2008.211
[13]
Zhang D, Breguet J M, Clavel R, et al. In situ electron microscopy mechanical testing of silicon nanowires using electrostatically actuated tensile stages. J Microelectromech Syst, 2010, 19:663 doi: 10.1109/JMEMS.2010.2044746
[14]
Zhang D, Drissen W, Breguet J M, et al. A high-sensitivity and quasi-linear capacitive sensor for nanomechanical testing applications. J Micromech Microeng, 2009, 19:075003 doi: 10.1088/0960-1317/19/7/075003
[15]
Zeng H, Li T, Malte B, et al. In situ SEM electromechanical characterization of nanowire using an electrostatic tensile device. J Phys D:Appl Phys, 2013, 46:30551 http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013JPhD...46D5501Z
[16]
Jin Q, Wang Y, Li T, et al. A MEMS device for in-situ TEM test of SCS nanobeam. Sci China Ser E Technol Sci, 2008, 51:1491 doi: 10.1007/s11431-008-0123-8
[17]
Jin Q, Li T, Wang Y, et al. In-situ TEM tensile test of 90 nm thick < 110 > SCS beam using MEMS chip. Proc IEEE Sensors, Lecce, Italy, 2008:1116 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=4716636
[18]
Guo Z, Wang X, Yang X, et al. Relationships between young's modulus, hardness and orientation of grain in polycrystalline copper. Acta Metall Sin, 2008, 44:901 http://www.en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-JSXB200808003.htm
[19]
Jin Q, Li T, Wang Y, et al. Confirmation on the size-dependence of Young's modulus of single crystal silicon from the TEM tensile tests. Proc IEEE Sensors, Hawaii, USA, 2010:2530 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5690465/
[20]
Jin Q, Li T, Zhou P, et al. Mechanical researches on Young's modulus of SCS nanostructures. J Nanomater, 2009, 2009:319842 http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1705441
[21]
Li X, Ono T, Wang Y L, et al. Ultrathin single crystalline-silicon cantilever resonators:fabrication technology and significant specimen size effect on Young's modulus. Appl Phys Lett, 2003, 83:3081 doi: 10.1063/1.1618369
[22]
Sadeghian H, Yang C K, Goosen J F L, et al. Characterizing size-dependent effective elastic modulus of silicon nanocantilevers using electrostatic pull-in instability. Appl Phys Lett, 2009, 94:221903 doi: 10.1063/1.3148774
[23]
Bartenwerfer M, Fatikow S, Zeng H, et al. Individual nanowire handling for NEMS fabrication. IEEE/ASME Int Conf on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2012:562 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6266052/
[24]
Cao A, Wei Y, Ma E. Grain boundary effects on plastic deformation and fracture mechanisms in Cu nanowires:molecular dynamics simulations. Phys Rev B, 2008, 77:195429 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.195429
[25]
Cao H, Wang L, Qiu Y, et al. Synthesis and I-V properties of aligned copper nanowires. Nanotechnology, 2006, 17:1736 doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/17/6/032
[26]
John C, Kenneth J. Physics. 4th ed. New York:Wiley, 1998:755
[27]
Huang Q, Lilley C M, Bode M, et al. Electrical failure analysis of Au nanowires. 8th IEEE Conf on Nanotechnology, Arlington, TX, 2008:549
[28]
Perisanu S, Gouttenoire V, Vincent P, et al. Mechanical properties of SiC nanowires determined by scanning electron and field emission microscopies. Phys Rev B, 2008, 77:165434 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.165434
[29]
Petrovic J J, Milewski J V, Rohr D L, et al. Tensile mechanical-properties of SiC whiskers. J Mater Sci, 1985, 20:1167 doi: 10.1007/BF01026310
[30]
Wang J, Lu C, Wang Q, et al. Understanding large plastic deformation of SiC nanowires at room temperature. Europhys Lett, 2011, 95:63003 doi: 10.1209/0295-5075/95/63003
[31]
Wang S, Chung D D L. Piezoresistivity in silicon carbide fibers. J Electroceram, 2003, 10:147 doi: 10.1023/B:JECR.0000011213.58831.45
[32]
Mukherjee M. Silicon carbide-materials, processing and applications in electronic devices. Rijeka:In Tech, 2011:369
[33]
Shor J S, Bemis L, Kurtz A D. Characterization of monolithic n-type 6H-SiC piezoresistive sensing elements. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 1994, 41:661 doi: 10.1109/16.285013
Fig. 1.  (Color online) (a) A schematic illustration of the in situ TEM/SEM tensile testing system. (b) A schematic illustration of the measuring system to get the nanosample`s electronic property and mechanical property simultaneously. $L$ is the effective half-length of the force sensor beam, and $F$ is the electrostatic force.

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Fig. 2.  (Color online) (a) Schematic of MEMS chip. (b) Enlarged view of the structure. The chip consists of a comb drive actuator, a force sensor beam and an electron beam window.

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Fig. 3.  Mechanical performance of the tensile device. Both experimentally and theoretically calculated results are presented.

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Fig. 4.  (Color online) Preparation process of tensile device.

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Fig. 5.  SEM image of an accomplished tensile device.

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Fig. 6.  Process flow for SCS nanobeam integrated MEMS tensile-testing chip (side views on the left and cross-sectional views on the right): (1) SOI wafer; (2) oxidizing the SOI wafer; (3) dry etching the $\langle$110$\rangle$-oriented sample and trenches under movable structures; (4) handle wafer oxidizing and the DRIE electron beam window; (5) wafer bonding; (6) wafer grinding and polishing; (7) Al pad patterning; (8) DRIE structures of combs, etc.; (9) SiO$_2$ etching followed by CO$_2$ supercritical-point drying.

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Fig. 7.  SEM image of the nanobeam integrated MEMS tensile-testing chip. The structures of beams and combs are shown. Inset is the enlarged view of the nanobeam, seen through the electron beam window.

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Fig. 8.  Integration procedure of a Cu nanowire. The scale mark in (b), (c) and (d) is 10 $\mu$m.

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Fig. 9.  TEM bright field image of the structures and the SAED pattern of the SCS nanobeam (inset). TEM images of the movements of the two ends of the nanobeam, A and B (indicated by arrows).

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Fig. 10.  Young's modulus-thickness relationship for the SCS nanobeam by TEM tensile tests (triangles); also shown in the figure are results of SEM tensile tests (inverted triangles) [20], resonance tests (circles) [21] and pull-in tests (squares) [22].

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Fig. 11.  Basic parameters of SAED of (100) silicon. (a) Two-dimensional lattice parameters of (100) silicon. (b) SAED pattern of (100) silicon.

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Fig. 12.  (a-c) Lattice parameters of the SCS nanobeam with different actuating voltages. (d) A $\langle$110$\rangle$-oriented stretched lattice model of SCS nanobeam.

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Fig. 13.  Properties of Cu nanowire. (a) Stress-strain relationship of Cu nanowire. (b) $I$-$V$ characterization of Cu nanowire under different stresses. (c) Resistance of Cu nanowire at zero bias voltage under different stress. (d) High-resolution TEM image of a Cu nanowire prepared by the same process parameters.

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Fig. 14.  Properties of SiC nanowire. (a) Stress-strain relationship of SiC nanowire. (b) $I$-$V$ characterization of SiC nanowire under different tensile stresses. (c) Resistance of SiC nanowire under different tensile stress. (d) High-resolution TEM image of a SiC nanowire prepared by the same process parameters.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint
[1]
Namazu T, Isono Y, Tanaka T. Evaluation of size effect on mechanical properties of single crystal silicon by nanoscale bending test using AFM. J Microelectromech Syst, 2000, 9:450 doi: 10.1109/84.896765
[2]
Jin Q H, Li T, Wang Y L, et al. Young's modulus size effect of SCS nanobeam by tensile testing in electron microscopy. IEEE SENSORS Conf, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2009:205 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=5398190
[3]
Li D, Wu Y, Kim P, et al. Thermal conductivity of individual silicon nanowires. Appl Phys Lett, 2003, 83:2934 doi: 10.1063/1.1616981
[4]
He R, Yang P. Giant piezoresistance effect in silicon nanowires. Nature Nanotechnol, 2006, 1:42 doi: 10.1038/nnano.2006.53
[5]
Ma D D D, Lee C S, Au F C K, et al. Small-diameter silicon nanowire surfaces. Science, 2003, 299:1874 doi: 10.1126/science.1080313
[6]
Bell D J, Lu T J, Fleck N A, et al. MEMS actuators and sensors:observations on their performance and selection for purpose. J Micromech Microeng, 2005, 15:S153 doi: 10.1088/0960-1317/15/7/022
[7]
Kiuchi M, Matsui S, Isono Y. Mechanical characteristics of FIB deposited carbon nanowires using an electrostatic actuated nano tensile testing device. J Microelectromech Syst, 2007, 16:191 doi: 10.1109/JMEMS.2006.889663
[8]
Haque M, Saif M. In-situ tensile testing of nano-scale specimens in SEM and TEM Exp. Mech. 2002, 42:123 https://experts.illinois.edu/en/publications/in-situ-tensile-testing-of-nano-scale-specimens-in-sem-and-tem
[9]
Han J H, Saif M T. In situ microtensile stage for electromechanical characterization of nanoscale freestanding films. Rev Sci Instrum, 2006, 77:045102 doi: 10.1063/1.2188368
[10]
Zhu Y, Espinosa H D. An electromechanical material testing system for in situ electron microscopy and applications. P Natl Acad Sci USA, 2005, 102:14503 doi: 10.1073/pnas.0506544102
[11]
Zhu Y, Ke C, Espinosa H D. Experimental techniques for the mechanical characterization of one-dimensional nanostructures. Exp Mech, 2007, 47:7 doi: 10.1007/s11340-006-0406-6
[12]
Peng B, Locascio M, Zapol P, et al. Measurements of near-ultimate strength for multiwalled carbon nanotubes and irradiation-induced crosslinking improvements. Nature Nanotechnol, 2008, 3:626 doi: 10.1038/nnano.2008.211
[13]
Zhang D, Breguet J M, Clavel R, et al. In situ electron microscopy mechanical testing of silicon nanowires using electrostatically actuated tensile stages. J Microelectromech Syst, 2010, 19:663 doi: 10.1109/JMEMS.2010.2044746
[14]
Zhang D, Drissen W, Breguet J M, et al. A high-sensitivity and quasi-linear capacitive sensor for nanomechanical testing applications. J Micromech Microeng, 2009, 19:075003 doi: 10.1088/0960-1317/19/7/075003
[15]
Zeng H, Li T, Malte B, et al. In situ SEM electromechanical characterization of nanowire using an electrostatic tensile device. J Phys D:Appl Phys, 2013, 46:30551 http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013JPhD...46D5501Z
[16]
Jin Q, Wang Y, Li T, et al. A MEMS device for in-situ TEM test of SCS nanobeam. Sci China Ser E Technol Sci, 2008, 51:1491 doi: 10.1007/s11431-008-0123-8
[17]
Jin Q, Li T, Wang Y, et al. In-situ TEM tensile test of 90 nm thick < 110 > SCS beam using MEMS chip. Proc IEEE Sensors, Lecce, Italy, 2008:1116 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=4716636
[18]
Guo Z, Wang X, Yang X, et al. Relationships between young's modulus, hardness and orientation of grain in polycrystalline copper. Acta Metall Sin, 2008, 44:901 http://www.en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-JSXB200808003.htm
[19]
Jin Q, Li T, Wang Y, et al. Confirmation on the size-dependence of Young's modulus of single crystal silicon from the TEM tensile tests. Proc IEEE Sensors, Hawaii, USA, 2010:2530 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5690465/
[20]
Jin Q, Li T, Zhou P, et al. Mechanical researches on Young's modulus of SCS nanostructures. J Nanomater, 2009, 2009:319842 http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1705441
[21]
Li X, Ono T, Wang Y L, et al. Ultrathin single crystalline-silicon cantilever resonators:fabrication technology and significant specimen size effect on Young's modulus. Appl Phys Lett, 2003, 83:3081 doi: 10.1063/1.1618369
[22]
Sadeghian H, Yang C K, Goosen J F L, et al. Characterizing size-dependent effective elastic modulus of silicon nanocantilevers using electrostatic pull-in instability. Appl Phys Lett, 2009, 94:221903 doi: 10.1063/1.3148774
[23]
Bartenwerfer M, Fatikow S, Zeng H, et al. Individual nanowire handling for NEMS fabrication. IEEE/ASME Int Conf on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2012:562 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6266052/
[24]
Cao A, Wei Y, Ma E. Grain boundary effects on plastic deformation and fracture mechanisms in Cu nanowires:molecular dynamics simulations. Phys Rev B, 2008, 77:195429 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.195429
[25]
Cao H, Wang L, Qiu Y, et al. Synthesis and I-V properties of aligned copper nanowires. Nanotechnology, 2006, 17:1736 doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/17/6/032
[26]
John C, Kenneth J. Physics. 4th ed. New York:Wiley, 1998:755
[27]
Huang Q, Lilley C M, Bode M, et al. Electrical failure analysis of Au nanowires. 8th IEEE Conf on Nanotechnology, Arlington, TX, 2008:549
[28]
Perisanu S, Gouttenoire V, Vincent P, et al. Mechanical properties of SiC nanowires determined by scanning electron and field emission microscopies. Phys Rev B, 2008, 77:165434 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.165434
[29]
Petrovic J J, Milewski J V, Rohr D L, et al. Tensile mechanical-properties of SiC whiskers. J Mater Sci, 1985, 20:1167 doi: 10.1007/BF01026310
[30]
Wang J, Lu C, Wang Q, et al. Understanding large plastic deformation of SiC nanowires at room temperature. Europhys Lett, 2011, 95:63003 doi: 10.1209/0295-5075/95/63003
[31]
Wang S, Chung D D L. Piezoresistivity in silicon carbide fibers. J Electroceram, 2003, 10:147 doi: 10.1023/B:JECR.0000011213.58831.45
[32]
Mukherjee M. Silicon carbide-materials, processing and applications in electronic devices. Rijeka:In Tech, 2011:369
[33]
Shor J S, Bemis L, Kurtz A D. Characterization of monolithic n-type 6H-SiC piezoresistive sensing elements. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 1994, 41:661 doi: 10.1109/16.285013

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    Received: 04 June 2014 Revised: Online: Published: 01 August 2014

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      Article Navigation >  Journal of Semiconductors  > 2014  >  35(8): 081001
      Yuelin Wang, Tie Li, Xiao Zhang, Hongjiang Zeng, Qinhua Jin. In situ TEM/SEM electronic/mechanical characterization of nano material with MEMS chip[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2014, 35(8): 081001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/8/081001 ****Y L Wang, T Li, X Zhang, H J Zeng, Q H Jin. In situ TEM/SEM electronic/mechanical characterization of nano material with MEMS chip[J]. J. Semicond., 2014, 35(8): 081001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/8/081001.
      Citation:
      Yuelin Wang, Tie Li, Xiao Zhang, Hongjiang Zeng, Qinhua Jin. In situ TEM/SEM electronic/mechanical characterization of nano material with MEMS chip[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2014, 35(8): 081001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/8/081001 ****
      Y L Wang, T Li, X Zhang, H J Zeng, Q H Jin. In situ TEM/SEM electronic/mechanical characterization of nano material with MEMS chip[J]. J. Semicond., 2014, 35(8): 081001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/8/081001.
      shu

      In situ TEM/SEM electronic/mechanical characterization of nano material with MEMS chip

      DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/8/081001

      • Science and Technology on Micro-System Laboratory, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China

      Funds:

      the National Science and Technology Supporting Program of China 2012BAJ11B01

      the FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES Project ECNANOMAN 269219

      the Key Project of NSFC 91123037

      the National Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China SS2012AA040402

      the Fund for Creative Research of NSFC 61321492

      the Shanghai International Sci. & Tech. Cooperation Foundation Project 12410707300

      Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Nos. 2011CB309501, 2012CB934102), the National Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (No. SS2012AA040402), the National Science and Technology Supporting Program of China (No. 2012BAJ11B01), the Fund for Creative Research of NSFC (No. 61321492), the Key Project of NSFC (Nos. 91323304, 91123037), the FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES Project ECNANOMAN (No. 269219), and the Shanghai International Sci. & Tech. Cooperation Foundation Project (No. 12410707300)

      the Key Project of NSFC 91323304

      the National Basic Research Program of China 2012CB934102

      the National Basic Research Program of China 2011CB309501

      More Information
      • Corresponding author: Wang Yuelin, Email:ylwang@mail.sim.ac.cn
      • Received Date: 2014-06-04
      • Published Date: 2014-08-01

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