• Applied Microscopy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.189-194
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• 2015

Backside Ar ion milling technique for the preparation of cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens, and backside-ion milling combined with focused ion beam (FIB) operation for electron holography were introduced in this paper. The backside Ar ion milling technique offers advantages in preparing cross-sectional specimens having thin, smooth and uniform surfaces with low surface damages. The back-side ion milling combined with the FIB technique could be used to observe the two-dimensional p-n junction profiles in semiconductors with the sample quality sufficient for an electron holography study. These techniques have useful applications for accurate TEM analysis of the microstructure of materials or electronic devices such as arrayed hole patterns, three-dimensional integrated circuits, and also relatively thick layers (> $1{\mu}m$).

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.22.1-22.6
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• 2020

In-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) holders that employ a chip-type specimen stage have been widely utilized in recent years. The specimen on the microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based chip is commonly prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) milling and ex-situ lift-out (EXLO). However, the FIB-milled thin-foil specimens are inevitably contaminated with Ga⁺ ions. When these specimens are heated for real time observation, the Ga⁺ ions influence the reaction or aggregate in the protection layer. An effective method of removing the Ga residue by Ar⁺ ion milling within FIB system was explored in this study. However, the Ga residue remained in the thin-foil specimen that was extracted by EXLO from the trench after the conduct of Ar⁺ ion milling. To address this drawback, the thin-foil specimen was attached to an FIB lift-out grid, subjected to Ar⁺ ion milling, and subsequently transferred to an MEMS-based chip by EXLO. The removal of the Ga residue was confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.143-144
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• 2015

Here we report the Ar-ion milling rates of ultrathin Si and GaAs single crystals. The thickness change is measured using convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) technique with the help of Bloch wave simulation method. This study suggests the experimental procedures to determine the references for an etching rate to reduce a sample thickness or to remove the damaged sample surface using Ar-ion source.

• 한국초전도학회:학술대회논문집
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• v.9
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• pp.87-90
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• 1999

We have studied the annealing effects of 570 (SrTiO$_3$) single crystal substrate and the I-V properties of step-edge junctions after Ar ion milling. YBa$_2Cu_3O_7$ (YBCO) thin films are fabricated on the substrates by using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and photolithography. The surface of Ar ion milled substrate was characterized with atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. After the substrate was damaged by milling, the critical current density of YBCO thin films deposited on the substrate was lowered. The annealing of the damaged substrate at about 1000 $^{\circ}C$ recovered the critical current density to that before the milling. Futhermore the annealing helped junction formation due to high quality film and increased the yield rate for the fabrication of high quality step-edge junction.

• 한국초전도학회:학술대회논문집
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• v.10
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• pp.146-150
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• 2000

Two methods have been investigated to fabricate good quality step-edge Josephson junctions on STO, MgO, and LAO single crystal substrates. One is the annealing of substrates at 1050$^{\circ}$C in 1 atmospheric oxygen after Ar-ion milling. The other is the cleaning of step-edge by using Ar ion milling. The step-edge is characterized with atomic force microscope (AFM) images. And YBCO thin films are deposited by using pulsed laser. The I-V properties of step-edge junctions are characterized. The yield rate of step-edge junction is increased by new fabrication methods.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.149-155
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• 2015

The ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance) Ar ion milling was manufactured to fabricate the device of thin film. The ECR ion milling system applied to the device etching operated by a power of 600W, a frequency of 2.45 GHz, and a wavelength of 12.24 cm and transferred by a designed waveguide. In order to match one resonant frequency, a magnetic field of 908 G was applied to a cavity inside of ECR. The Ar gas intruded into a cavity and created the discharged ion beam. The surface of target material was etched by the ion beam having an acceleration voltage of 1000 V. The formed devices with a width of $1{\mu}m{\sim}9{\mu}m$ on the GMR-SV (Giant magnetoresistance-spin valve) multilayer after three major processes such as photo lithography, ion milling, and electrode fabrication were observed by the optical microscope.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2017

Drastic development of ubiquitous devices requires more advanced batteries with high specific capacitance and high rate capability. Large-area microstructure characterization across the stacks of cathode, electrolyte and anode might reveal the origin of the instability or degradation of batteries upon cycling charge. In this study, sample preparation methods to observe the cross-section view of the electrodes for battery in SEM and several imaging tips are reviewed. For an accurate evaluation of the microstructure, ion milling which flats the surface uniformly is recommended. Pros and cons of cross-section polishing (CP) with Ar ion and focused ion beam (FIB) with Ga ion were compared. Additionally, a modified but new cross-section milling technique utilizing precision ion polishing system (PIPS) which can be an alternative method of CP is developed. This simple approach will make the researchers have more chances to prepare decent large-area cross-section electrode for batteries.

• 한국초전도학회:학술대회논문집
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• v.9
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• pp.91-94
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• 1999

A new type of high-T$_c$ superconducting Josephson junctions has been prepared by Ar ion beam etching and electron beam lithography. YBa$_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ (YBCO) films deposited on (001) SrTiO$_3$ single crystal substrate by pulsed laser deposition were patterned by Ar ion milling with photolithography. The narrow slit with a electroresist mask, about 1000 ${\AA}$ wide, was constructed over a 3 ${\sim}$ 5 ${\mu}$m bridge of a 1200-${\AA}$-thick YBCO film by electron beam lithography. The slit was then etched by the Ar ion beam to form a damaged 600-${\AA}$-thick YBCO. Thus prepared structure forms an S-N-S (YBCO - damaged YBCO - YBCO) type Josephson junctions. Those junctions exhibit RSI-like I-V characteristics at 77 K. The properties of the Josephson junctions such as I$_c$ R$_N$, and J$_c$ were characterized.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.24-25
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• 2001

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-25
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• 2000

We have investigated the effects of Ar and$O_2$-ion milling on the exchange coupling field ($H_{ex}$) and coercive field ($H_c$) at the interfaces between substrates and NiO/NiFe films, to understand the exchange biasing mechanism. The $O_2$-ion milling was successfully performed by means of the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) process. We found that the local roughness gradient of the NiO surface increased by $O_2$-ion milling. The ratio of $H_{ex}/H_c$ increased from 0.87 to 1.77, whereas $H_c$ decreased by almost a half as a results of the ion milling. The decrease in $H_c$could be interpreted as due to the refinement of magnetic domain size, which arose from the increase of the local roughness gradient of the NiO surface. The decrease in low $H_c$, and increase in $H_{ex}$ in NiO spin valves by ECR-ion milling are in the right direction far use in magnetoresistance (MR) heads.