• Open access free of charge
    • Free and high quality figure editing
    • Free widest possible global promotion for your research

2022 Vol. 4, No. 3

Reviews
Optical wafer defect inspection at the 10 nm technology node and beyond
Jinlong Zhu, Jiamin Liu, Tianlai Xu, Shuai Yuan, Zexu Zhang, Hao Jiang, Honggang Gu, Renjie Zhou, Shiyuan Liu
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac64d7
Abstract:

The growing demand for electronic devices, smart devices, and the Internet of Things constitutes the primary driving force for marching down the path of decreased critical dimension and increased circuit intricacy of integrated circuits. However, as sub-10 nm high-volume manufacturing is becoming the mainstream, there is greater awareness that defects introduced by original equipment manufacturer components impact yield and manufacturing costs. The identification, positioning, and classification of these defects, including random particles and systematic defects, are becoming more and more challenging at the 10 nm node and beyond. Very recently, the combination of conventional optical defect inspection with emerging techniques such as nanophotonics, optical vortices, computational imaging, quantitative phase imaging, and deep learning is giving the field a new possibility. Hence, it is extremely necessary to make a thorough review for disclosing new perspectives and exciting trends, on the foundation of former great reviews in the field of defect inspection methods. In this article, we give a comprehensive review of the emerging topics in the past decade with a focus on three specific areas:(a) the defect detectability evaluation, (b) the diverse optical inspection systems, and (c) the post-processing algorithms. We hope, this work can be of importance to both new entrants in the field and people who are seeking to use it in interdisciplinary work.

Near-field radiative heat transfer in hyperbolic materials
Ruiyi Liu, Chenglong Zhou, Yong Zhang, Zheng Cui, Xiaohu Wu, Hongliang Yi
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac64d6
Abstract:

In the post-Moore era, as the energy consumption of micro-nano electronic devices rapidly increases, near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) with super-Planckian phenomena has gradually shown great potential for applications in efficient and ultrafast thermal modulation and energy conversion. Recently, hyperbolic materials, an important class of anisotropic materials with hyperbolic isofrequency contours, have been intensively investigated. As an exotic optical platform, hyperbolic materials bring tremendous new opportunities for NFRHT from theoretical advances to experimental designs. To date, there have been considerable achievements in NFRHT for hyperbolic materials, which range from the establishment of different unprecedented heat transport phenomena to various potential applications. This review concisely introduces the basic physics of NFRHT for hyperbolic materials, lays out the theoretical methods to address NFRHT for hyperbolic materials, and highlights unique behaviors as realized in different hyperbolic materials and the resulting applications. Finally, key challenges and opportunities of the NFRHT for hyperbolic materials in terms of fundamental physics, experimental validations, and potential applications are outlined and discussed.

Ultrafast synthetic strategies under extreme heating conditions toward single-atom catalysts
Guanchao He, Minmin Yan, Haisheng Gong, Huilong Fei, Shuangyin Wang
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac670b
Abstract:

Dispersing atomic metals on substrates provides an ideal method to maximize metal utilization efficiency, which is important for the production of cost-effective catalysts and the atomic-level control of the electronic structure. However, due to the high surface energy, individual single atoms tend to migrate and aggregate into nanoparticles during preparation and catalytic operation. In the past few years, various synthetic strategies based on ultrafast thermal activation toward the effective preparation of single-atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged, which could effectively solve the aggregation issue. Here, we highlight and summarize the latest developments in various ultrafast synthetic strategy with rapid energy input by heating shockwave and instant quenching for the synthesis of SACs, including Joule heating, microwave heating, solid-phase laser irradiation, flame-assisted method, arc-discharge method and so on, with special emphasis on how to achieve the uniform dispersion of single metal atoms at high metal loadings as well as the suitability for scalable production. Finally, we point out the advantages and disadvantages of the ultrafast heating strategies as well as the trends and challenges of future developments.

Advances in the design and manufacturing of novel freeform optics
Sumit Kumar, Zhen Tong, Xiangqian Jiang
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac7617
Abstract:

Freeform optics has become the most prominent element of the optics industry. Advanced freeform optical designs supplementary to ultra-precision manufacturing and metrology techniques have upgraded the lifestyle, thinking, and observing power of existing humans. Imaginations related to space explorations, portability, accessibility have also witnessed sensible in today's time with freeform optics. Present-day design methods and fabrications techniques applicable in the development of freeform optics and the market requirements are focussed and explained with the help of traditional and non-traditional optical applications. Over the years, significant research is performed in the emerging field of freeform optics, but no standards are established yet in terms of tolerances and definitions. We critically review the optical design methods for freeform optics considering the image forming and non-image forming applications. Numerous subtractive manufacturing technologies including figure correction methods and metrology have been developed to fabricate extreme modern freeform optics to satisfy the demands of various applications such as space, astronomy, earth science, defence, biomedical, material processing, surveillance, and many more. We described a variety of advanced technologies in manufacturing and metrology for novel freeform optics. Next, we also covered the manufacturing-oriented design scheme for advanced optics. We conclude this review with an outlook on the future of freeform optics design, manufacturing and metrology.

Perspective
Innovation for forming aluminum alloy thin shells at ultra-low temperature by the dual enhancement effect
Fan Xiaobo, Yuan Shijian
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac6b62
Abstract:

Integral thin shells made of high strength aluminum alloys are urgently needed in new generation transportation equipment. There are challenges to overcoming the co-existing problems of wrinkling and splitting by the cold forming and hot forming processes. An innovative technology of ultra-low temperature forming has been invented for aluminum alloy thin shells by the new phenomenon of ‘dual enhancement effect’. That means plasticity and hardening are enhanced simultaneously at ultra-low temperatures. In this perspective, the dual enhancement effect is described, and the development, current state and prospects of this new forming method are introduced. This innovative method can provide a new approach for integral aluminum alloy components with large size, ultra-thin thickness, and high strength. An integral tank dome of rocket with 2 m in diameter was formed by using a blank sheet with the same thickness as the final component, breaking through the limit value of thickness-diameter ratio.

Research
Electro- and photochemical studies of gold (III) bromide towards a novel laser-based method of gold patterning
Cecily Rosenbaum, Matthew Murphy, Paul T Lawrence, Curtis Sirkoch, Stella Rose Schneeberg, Kyle Zigner, Sarah Morris, Ethan Richman, Chibuzo Anyanwu, Eric Will, Clare Wheeler, Eric Reed, Christopher N LaFratta
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac6cb0
Abstract:

In this report, we demonstrate a novel technique for the microscopic patterning of gold by combining the photoreduction of AuIIIBr4 to AuIBr2 and the electrochemical reduction of AuIBr2 to elemental gold in a single step within solution. While mask-based methods have been the norm for electroplating, the adoption of direct laser writing for flexible, real-time patterning has not been widespread. Through irradiation using a 405 nm laser and applying a voltage corresponding to a selective potential window specific to AuIBr2, we have shown that we can locally deposit elemental gold at the focal point of the laser. In addition to demonstrating the feasibility of the technique, we have collected data on the kinetics of the photoreduction reaction in ethanol and have deduced its rate law. We have confirmed the selective deposition of AuIBr2 within a potential window through controlled potential electrolysis experiments and through direct measurement on a quartz crystal microbalance. Finally, we have verified local deposition through scanning electron microscopy

In-situ structural evolution of Bi2O3 nanoparticle catalysts for CO2 electroreduction
Hongbo Wang, Chongyang Tang, Bo Sun, Jiangchao Liu, Yan Xia, Wenqing Li, Changzhong Jiang, Dong He, Xiangheng Xiao
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac7a6e
Abstract:

Under the complex external reaction conditions, uncovering the true structural evolution of the catalyst is of profound significance for the establishment of relevant structure-activity relationships and the rational design of electrocatalysts. Here, the surface reconstruction of the catalyst was characterized by ex-situ methods and in-situ Raman spectroscopy in CO2 electroreduction. The final results showed that the Bi2O3 nanoparticles were transformed into Bi/Bi2O3 two-dimensional thin-layer nanosheets (NSs). It is considered to be the active phase in the electrocatalytic process. The Bi/Bi2O3 NSs showed good catalytic performance with a Faraday efficiency (FE) of 94.8% for formate and a current density of 26 mA cm-2 at -1.01 V. While the catalyst maintained a 90% FE in a wide potential range (-0.91 V to -1.21 V) and long-term stability (24 h). Theoretical calculations support the theory that the excellent performance originates from the enhanced bonding state of surface Bi-Bi, which stabilized the adsorption of the key intermediate OCHO* and thus promoted the production of formate.

Laser-induced microjet-assisted ablation for high-quality microfabrication
Yang Guo, Pei Qiu, Shaolin Xu, Gary J Cheng
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac6632
Abstract:

Liquid-assisted laser ablation has the advantage of relieving thermal effects of common laser ablation processes, whereas the light scattering and shielding effects by laser-induced cavitation bubbles, suspended debris, and turbulent liquid flow generally deteriorate laser beam transmission stability, leading to low energy efficiency and poor surface quality. Here, we report that a continuous and directional high-speed microjet will form in the laser ablation zone if laser-induced primary cavitation bubbles asymmetrically collapse sequentially near the air-liquid interface under a critical thin liquid layer. The laser-induced microjet can instantaneously and directionally remove secondary bubbles and ablation debris around the laser ablation region, and thus a very stable material removal process can be obtained. The shadowgraphs of high-speed camera reveal that the average speed of laser-induced continuous microjet can be as high as 1.1 m s-1 in its initial 500 µm displacement. The coupling effect of laser ablation, mechanical impact along with the collapse of cavitation bubbles and flushing of high-speed microjet helps achieve a high material removal rate and significantly improved surface quality. We name this uncovered liquid-assisted laser ablation process as laser-induced microjet-assisted ablation (LIMJAA) based on its unique characteristics. High-quality microgrooves with a large depth-to-width ratio of 5.2 are obtained by LIMJAA with a single-pass laser scanning process in our experiments. LIMJAA is capable of machining various types of difficult-to-process materials with high-quality arrays of micro-channels, square and circle microscale through-holes. The results and disclosed mechanisms in our work provide a deep understanding of the role of laser-induced microjet in improving the processing quality of liquid-assisted laser micromachining.

Study of the intrinsic mechanisms of nickel additive for grain refinement and strength enhancement of laser aided additively manufactured Ti–6Al–4V
Shang Sui, Youxiang Chew, Fei Weng, Chaolin Tan, Zhenglin Du, Guijun Bi
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac6b61
Abstract:

It is well-known that grain refiners can tailor the microstructure and enhance the mechanical properties of titanium alloys fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM). However, the intrinsic mechanisms of Ni addition on AM-built Ti–6Al–4V alloy is not well established. This limits its industrial applications. This work systematically investigated the influence of Ni additive on Ti–6Al–4V alloy fabricated by laser aided additive manufacturing (LAAM). The results showed that Ni addition yields three key effects on the microstructural evolution of LAAM-built Ti–6Al–4V alloy. (a) Ni additive remarkably refines the prior-β grains, which is due to the widened solidification range. As the Ni addition increased from 0 to 2.5 wt. %, the major-axis length and aspect ratio of the prior-β grains reduced from over 1500 µm and 7 to 97.7 µm and 1.46, respectively. (b) Ni additive can discernibly induce the formation of globular α phase, which is attributed to the enhanced concentration gradient between the β and α phases. This is the driving force of globularization according to the termination mass transfer theory. The aspect ratio of the α laths decreased from 4.14 to 2.79 as the Ni addition increased from 0 to 2.5 wt. %. (c) Ni as a well-known β-stabilizer and it can remarkably increase the volume fraction of β phase. Room-temperature tensile results demonstrated an increase in mechanical strength and an almost linearly decreasing elongation with increasing Ni addition. A modified mathematical model was used to quantitatively analyze the strengthening mechanism. It was evident from the results that the α lath phase and the solid solutes contribute the most to the overall yield strength of the LAAM-built Ti–6Al–4V–xNi alloys in this work. Furthermore, the decrease in elongation with increasing Ni addition is due to the deterioration in deformability of the β phase caused by a large amount of solid-solution Ni atoms. These findings can accelerate the development of additively manufactured titanium alloys.

Robust and high-sensitivity thermal probing at the nanoscale based on resonance Raman ratio (R3)
Hamidreza Zobeiri, Nicholas Hunter, Shen Xu, Yangsu Xie, Xinwei Wang
2022, 4(3) doi: 10.1088/2631-7990/ac6cb1
Abstract:

Raman spectroscopy-based temperature sensing usually tracks the change of Raman wavenumber, linewidth and intensity, and has found very broad applications in characterizing the energy and charge transport in nanomaterials over the last decade. The temperature coefficients of these Raman properties are highly material-dependent, and are subjected to local optical scattering influence. As a result, Raman-based temperature sensing usually suffers quite large uncertainties and has low sensitivity. Here, a novel method based on dual resonance Raman phenomenon is developed to precisely measure the absolute temperature rise of nanomaterial (nm WS2 film in this work) from 170 to 470 K. A 532 nm laser (2.33 eV photon energy) is used to conduct the Raman experiment. Its photon energy is very close to the excitonic transition energy of WS2 at temperatures close to room temperature. A parameter, termed resonance Raman ratio (R3) Ω = IA1g/IE2g is introduced to combine the temperature effects on resonance Raman scattering for the A1g and E2g modes. Ω has a change of more than two orders of magnitude from 177 to 477 K, and such change is independent of film thickness and local optical scattering. It is shown that when Ω is varied by 1%, the temperature probing sensitivity is 0.42 K and 1.16 K at low and high temperatures, respectively. Based on Ω, the in-plane thermal conductivity (k) of a ∼25 nm-thick suspended WS2 film is measured using our energy transport state-resolved Raman (ET-Raman). k is found decreasing from 50.0 to 20.0 Wm−1 K−1 when temperature increases from 170 to 470 K. This agrees with previous experimental and theoretical results and the measurement data using our FET-Raman. The R3 technique provides a very robust and high-sensitivity method for temperature probing of nanomaterials and will have broad applications in nanoscale thermal transport characterization, non-destructive evaluation, and manufacturing monitoring.