Wedge polishing was used to prepare one-dimensional Si n-p junction
and Si p-channel metal-oxide-silicon field effect transistor (pMOSFET)
samples for precise and quantitative electrostatic potential analysis
using off-axis electron holography. To avoid artifacts associated with ion
milling, cloth polishing with 0.02-μm colloidal silica suspension was
used for final thinning. Uniform thickness and no significant charging
were observed by electron holography analysis for samples prepared
entirely by this method. The effect of sample thickness was investigated
and the minimum thickness for reliable results was found to be ∼160
nm. Below this thickness, measured phase changes were smaller than
expected. For the pMOSFET sample, quantitative analysis of two-dimensional
electrostatic potential distribution showed that the metallurgical gate
length (separation between two extension junctions) was ∼54 nm,
whereas the actual gate length was measured to be ∼70 nm by
conventional transmission electron microscopy. Thus, source and drain
junction encroachment under the gate was 16 nm.