Atomic force microscopy (AFM) use a special small probe to measure certain interactions between the probe and the sample surface, such as tunneling current, atomic force, magnetic, electromagnetic near field, etc., and use one having a three-axis piezo on the sample surface to scan the sample surface. While scanning ,the vertical axis piezo is able to fine-tune the feedback circuit, so that interaction between the probe and the sample is maintained fixed during the scanning process. The distance between the probe tip and the surface is in a few to several hundred a ° (10-10m) , as long as the recording of the vertical distance, we are able to obtain an image map, these data can be used to show the sample surface characteristic. Most of AFM probes made from the silicon, the tip radius of curvature of about 10nm, is an important research tool for microscopic surface structure.
Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (CAFM) is to add a set of current amplifier into the AFM microscope, then using Contact Mode to scan the test sample surface, while obtaining the height of the signal, if the sample surface can create current, the probe will also get the current signal. Using CAFM to obtain the height and current distribution of sample surface, and we can compare and identify the location of electrical abnormalities and also can get the current / voltage curve (IV curve) further on a specific point.
Figure. VEECO INNOVA SPM (Atomic force)
1. Material surface topography
Data storage device surface topography
LED surface topography
1.Failure localization (Higher resistance/Junction leakage/Gate oxide leakage)
2.Identify Contact types (P+/N+/Poly contact)
3.I/V curves measurement
Case 1: Failure localization by CAFM,current map identify the abnormal poly
Case 2 : Failure localization by CAFM,compare the topography and current map
current map
topography
TEM sample preparation after CFAM failure localization
Ms.Huang ext.6218
E-mail: huini_huang@msscorps.com