• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2024

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) has become an indispensable tool in efforts to develop the next generation of nanoelectronic devices, given its achievable nanometer spatial resolution and highly versatile ability to measure a variety of properties. Recently a new scanning probe microscope was developed to overcome the tip degradation problem of the classic SPM. The main advantage of this new method, called Reverse tip sample (RTS) SPM, is that a single tip can be replaced by a chip containing hundreds to thousands of tips. Generally for use in RTS SPM, pyramid-shaped diamond tips are made by molding on a silicon substrate. Combining RTS SPM with Scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM) using the diamond tip offers the potential to perform 3D profiling of semiconductor materials. However, damage frequently occurs to the completed tips because of the complex manufacturing process. In this work, we design, fabricate, and evaluate an RTS tip chip prototype to simplify the complex manufacturing process, prevent tip damage, and shorten manufacturing time.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.286-293
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• 2019

In friction and wear tests that use friction force microscopy (FFM), the wear debris transfer to the tip apex that changes tip radius is a crucial issue that influences the friction and wear performances of films and coatings with nanoscale thicknesses. In this study, FFM tests are performed for bilayer $MoS_2$ film to obtain a better understanding of how geometrical and chemical changes of tip apex influence the friction and wear properties of nanoscale molecular layers. The critical load can be estimated from the test results based on the clear distinction of the failure area. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy are employed to measure and observe the geometrical and chemical changes of the tip apex. Under normal loads lower than 1000 nN, the reuse of tips enhances the friction and wear performance at the tip-sample interface as the contact pair changes with the increase of tip radius. Therefore, the reduction of contact pressure due to the increase of tip radius by the transfer of $MoS_2$ or Mo-dominant wear debris and the change of contact pairs from diamond/$MoS_2$ to partial $MoS_2$ or Mo/$MoS_2$ can explain the critical load increase that results from tip reuse. We suggest that the wear debris transfer to the tip apex should be considered when used tips are repeatedly employed to identify the tribological properties of ultra-thin films using FFM.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.18-22
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• 2000

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effect of nano-contact condition on the nano-adhesion phenomena. SPM(scanning probe microscope) tips with different radius of curvature were fabricated by a series of masking and etching processes. DLC(diamond-like carbon) and W-DLC (tungsten-incorporated diamond-like carbon) were coated on (100) silicon wafer by PACVD(plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition). Pull-off forces of Pure Si-wafer, DLC and W-DLC were measured with SPM(scanning probe microscope). Also, the same series of tests were carried out with the tips with different radius of curvature. Results showed that DLC and W-DLC showed much lower pull-off force than Si-wafer and Pull-off force increased with the tip radius.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.77-81
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• 2017

Pulse electroplating of Ni-P alloy was studied to fulfill the material requirement to the advanced vertical probe tip in wafer probe card. The major concerns are for the electrical conductivity and yield strength. Plating parameters such as current density, duty cycle and solution components were examined to obtain the nanocrystal structure and proper percentage of phosphorus, leading to how to control the nanocrystal grain growth and precipitation of $Ni_3P$ after heat treatment. Among the parameters, the amount of phosphorus acid was the main factor affecting on the grain size and sheet resistance, and the amount of 0.1 gram was appropriate. Since hardness in Ni-P alloy is increased by as-plated nanocrystal structure plus precipitation of $Ni_3P$, the concentration of P less than 15 at% was better choice for the grain coarsening without minus in hardness value. The following heat treatment made grain growth and dispersion of precipitates adjustable to meet the target limit of resistance of $100m{\Omega}$ and hardness number of over 1000Hv. The Ni-P alloy will be a candidate for the substitute of the conventional probe tip material.

• 정보저장시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.185-189
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• 2005

We reported here nano-scale electrical phase-change recording in amorphous $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ media using an atomic force microscope (AFM) having conducting probes. In recording process, a pulse voltage is applied to the conductive probe that touches the media surface to change locally the electrical resistivity of a film. However, in contact operation, tip/media wear and contamination could major obstacles, which degraded SNR, reproducibility, and lifetime. In order to overcome tip/media wear and contamination in contact mode operation, we adopted the W incorporated diamond-like carbon (W-DLC) films as a protective layer. Optimized mutilayer media were prepared by a hybrid deposition system of PECVD and RF magnetron sputtering. When suitable electrical pulses were applied to media through the conducting probe, it was observed that data bits as small as 25 nm in diameter have been written and read with good reproducibility, which corresponds to a data density of $1 Tbit/inch^2$. We concluded that stable electrical phase-change recording was possible mainly due to W-DLC layer, which played a role not only capping layer but also resistive layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.135-135
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• 2004

21세기 정보화시대에 미디어의 발전은 고저장밀도를 요구하는 정보저장 장치의 개발을 필요로 하게 되었고, 현재 정보저장 장치의 주류를 이루는 magnetic recording 방식에 의한 HDD는 향후 5년 이내에 초자성한계 (super paramagnetic limit)라는 물리적 현상에 직면하여 더 이상 발전이 어려울 깃이다 따라서 이러한 한계를 극복하기 위한 여러 기술 증 Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM)을 이용한 차세대 탐침형 정보저장 기술은 미세한 끝단 반경을 가지는 탐침과 표면의 상호작용을 이용하여 정보를 기록/재생하는 기술로써 수십 nm 크기의 bit를 형성하여 Tbit/in$^2$ 이상의 높은 저장밀도를 가질 수 있으므로 현재 가장 상용화될 가능성이 높다.(중략)