Processing outcomes of atomic force microscope tip-based nanomilling with different trajectories on single-crystal silicon

Jiqiang Wang, Yongda Yan, Zihan Li, Yanquan Geng, Xichun Luo, Pengfei Fan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)
28 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Atomic force microscope (AFM) tip-based nanomilling is an emerging technology for machining nanostructures with a high rate of material removal and slight tip wear. However, subsurface damage induced by nanomilling is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated nanomilling-induced subsurface damage of single-crystal silicon experimentally and with molecular dynamics simulations. We studied the effect of clockwise and anticlockwise trajectories on the nanochannel morphology. The clockwise trajectory resulted in a 'U'-shaped nanochannel at a relatively low normal load. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy analysis of the nanochannel subsurface revealed atomic-scale defects, including dislocations, stacking faults, and amorphous silicon. Molecular dynamics simulations described the evolution of the phase transformation and subsurface damage. This work reveals the mechanism of subsurface damage of single-crystal silicon in nanomilling, which will facilitate the machining of nanostructures with minimal subsurface damage.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)480-490
Number of pages11
JournalPrecision Engineering
Volume72
Early online date3 Jul 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Nov 2021

Keywords

  • atomic force microscope
  • nanomilling
  • single-crystal silicon
  • subsurface damage
  • phase transformation

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