Transmission Electron Microscope Sample Shape Optimization for Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy Using the Focused Ion Beam Technique

Abstract
By utilizing the focused ion beam (FIB) technique, we evaluated signal intensity ratios of analyzed areas and the matrix for energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy with a transmission electron microscope (TEM-EDX). In the case of conventional FIB samples (H-shape), electrons scattered from the thin film area irradiate the sidewalls of the matrix (Si substrate) under the thin film position and they generate a large number of X-rays. These matrix signals are reduced by making samples as U-shaped and removing the underlying sidewalls. The final matrix (Si) X-ray signal is reduced by 90% compared with the conventional H-shaped samples.

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