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Microinstruments for submicron material studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

M. T. A. Saif
Affiliation:
School of Electrical Engineering and The Cornell Nanofabrication Facility, Cornell University, Phillips Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853
N. C. MacDonald
Affiliation:
School of Electrical Engineering and The Cornell Nanofabrication Facility, Cornell University, Phillips Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853
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Abstract

We present two microinstruments for submicron scale material characterization. One of the instruments applies torsion on two single crystal silicon bars with square cross sections,1 and 2.25 μm2, until fracture. The maximum shear stress prior to fracture is found tobe 5.6 and 2.6 GPa, respectively. The second instrument applies tension on a composite (aluminum-silicon dioxide) beam, 1 × 1.5 μm2 in cross section. The beam fails at 220 μN.In both the experiments, the samples are designed, patterned, and cofabricated with the instruments. The microinstruments' small size, low thermal mass, vacuum compatibility, and built-in vibration isolation allow material characterization to be performed over a wide range of environmental conditions: high vacuum (electron microscopy and surface analysis), high humidity, high pressure, and high and low temperatures.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1998

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