Title:Recent Developments in Focused Ion Beam and its Application in Nanotechnology
VOLUME: 12 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):Zongwei Xu, Yongqi Fu, Wei Han, Dongguang Wei, Huisheng Jiao and Haifeng Gao
Affiliation:State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology & Instruments, Centre of MicroNano Manufacturing Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
Keywords:Focused Ion Beam, Helium Ion Microscopy, Nanofabrication, Rayleigh-Plateau Instability, SEM in-situ.
Abstract:Background: Focused Ion Beam (FIB) nanofabrication technology has
an important status in micro-nano manufacturing technology for its advantages of
direct writing, nanoscale fabrication, SEM in-situ observation, high reproducibility,
and 3D complex micro/nanofabriction, etc. This review aims to present some
recent developments in Focused Ion Beam and its application in nanotechnology.
Methods: The new developments of FIB equipment and their performance were
introduced. The FIB fundamental research of ion-sample interaction, FIB application
in material properties study at the micro/nanoscale and 3D nanostructures
fabrication were presented and discussed.
Results: Seventy papers were included in the review. The developments of new
ion sources of Xe plasma FIB and helium ion (He+) microscopy and their performances were introduced,
which can offer higher material removal rate of ~ 100 times faster than traditional Ga+ source
FIB and fabrication of sub-10 nm scales structures, respectively. Then, the fundamental research of
FIB induced modification on substrate material has studied by methods of microscopy characterization,
molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and FIB induced material redistribution (Rayleigh-
Plateau instability). Finally, FIB application in material properties study at the micro/nanoscale and
3D nanostructures fabrication were discussed.
Conclusion: The findings of this review confirm the importance of FIB nanofabrication and its applications
in delicate 3D nanostructures, functional devices and material fundamental research, etc.
With the developments of FIB advanced equipment and ion-sample interaction mechanism research,
FIB technique can give more and more contributions to nanotechnology.
