• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 1999

It is practically hard to prepare good TEM specimens from powders which are embedded in epoxy materials for ion milling, because the milling rate difference between powders and epoxy is quite large. In order to overcome this problem, we tried to find methods to increase the density of powders in the embedding epoxy without loosing the adhesive strength between them. Powder density was considerably increased by employing a centrifuge for embedding, compared to the result by a conventional vacuum embedding. In addition, mixing powders of different sizes after sieving also enhanced the final density by allowing smaller particles filling in the gaps of larger particles. Ion milling of powders embedded by these methods resulted in thin specimens good enough for normal TEM works. TEM specimens from spherical, platy and fibrous powders of submicron size were successfully prepared by this centrifuging method.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.598-605
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• 2003

The optimized conditions for the cross-sectional TEM sample preparation using tripod polisher and ion-beam miller was confirmed by AFM and TEM. For the TEM observation of interfaces including InGaN layers like InGaN/GaN MQW structures, the sample preparation by the only tripod polishing was useful due to the reduction of artifacts. On the other hand, in case of the thick nitride films like ELO, PE, and superlattice, both tripod polishing and controlled ion-beam milling were required to improve the reproducibility. As a result, the ion-beam milling with the $60^{\circ}$modulation showed the minimum height difference between film and sapphire interface and the ion-beam milling of the $80^{\circ}$modulation showed the broad observable width.

• 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.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.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.445-453
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• 2022

SiO_x was prepared from a mixture of Si and SiO₂ via high-energy ball milling as a negative electrode material for Li-ion batteries. The molar ratio of Si to SiO₂ as precursors and the milling time were varied to identify the synthetic condition that could exhibit desirable anode performances. With an appropriate milling time, the material showed a unique microstructure in which amorphous Si nanoparticles were intimately embedded within the SiO₂ matrix. The interface between the Si and SiO₂ was composed of silicon suboxides with Si oxidation states from 0 to +4 as proven by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis. With the addition of a conductive carbon (Super P carbon black) as a coating material, the SiO_x/C manifested superior specific capacity to a commercial SiO_x/C composite without compromising its cycle-life performance. The simple mechanochemical method described in this study will shed light on cost-effective synthesis of high-capacity silicon oxides as promising anode materials.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.419-426
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• 2020

Understanding the pore structure including pore shape and connectivity in unconventional reservoirs is essential to increase the recovery rate of unconventional energy resources such as shale gas and oil. In this study, we found analysis condition to probe the nanoscale pore structure in shale reservoirs using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) and Ion Milling System (IMS). A-068 core samples from Liard Basin are used to probe the pore structure in shale reservoirs. The pore structure is analyzed with different pretreatment methods and analysis condition because each sample has different characteristics. The results show that surface milling by FIB is effective to obtain pore images of several micrometers local area while milling a large-area by IMS is efficient to observe various pore structure in a short time. Especially, it was confirmed that the pore structure of rocks with high content of carbonate minerals and high strength can be observed with milling by IMS. In this study, the analysis condition and process for observing the pore structure in the shale reservoirs is established. Further studies are needed to perform for probing the effect of pore size and shape on the enhancement of shale gas recovery.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.70-74
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• 2017

Two milling methods, dry vibration milling and wet ball milling, were used to prepare $Na_{2/3}(Ni_{1/3}Mn_{2/3})O_2$ powders as a cathode material for sodium ion batteries. The morphology and electrochemical property of the two powders with different milling processes were compared to each other. The particle size is less than $1{\mu}m$ in the dry vibration milled powder, while lots of larger particles than $1{\mu}m$ were found in the wet ball milled one. The single phase of $Na_{2/3}(Ni_{1/3}Mn_{2/3})O_2$ was obtained in the temperature range of $875{\sim}900^{\circ}C$. The discharge capacity and discharge voltage of the powder prepared by the dry process were higher than those of one prepared by the wet process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.482-486
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• 2004

The application of focused ion beam (FIB) technology in micro/nano machining has become increasingly popular. Its use in micro/nano machining has advantages over contemporary photolithography or other micro/nano machining technologies, such as small feature resolution, the ability to process without masks and being accommodating for a variety of materials and geometries. This paper presents that the recent development and our research goals in FIB nano machining technology are given. The emphasis will be on direct milling, or chemical vapor deposition techniques (CVD), and this can distinguish the FIB technology from the contemporary photolithography process and provide a vital alternative to it. After an introduction to the technology and its FIB principles, the recent developments in using milling or deposition techniques for making various high-quality devices and high-precision components at the micro/nano meter scale are examined and discussed. Finally, conclusions are presented to summarize the recent work and to suggest the areas for improving the FIB milling technology and for studying our future research.