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Analysis of Local Strain in Aluminum Interconnects by Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2003

Stephan Krämer
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Heisenbergstr. 3, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany Stephan Krämer is now at the Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Cynthia A. Volkert
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Heisenbergstr. 3, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Joachim Mayer
Affiliation:
Gemeinschaftslabor für Elektronenmikroskopie, RWTH Aachen, Ahornstr. 55, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
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Abstract

Energy filtered convergent beam electron diffraction was used to investigate localized strain in aluminum interconnects. By analyzing the position of higher order Laue zone lines, it is possible to measure the three-dimensional lattice strain with high accuracy (∼10−4) and high spatial resolution (10 to 100 nm). In the present article, important details of the strain analysis procedure are outlined. Subsequently, results of measurements of the local variation of thermal strains in narrow, free-standing interconnects are presented. The strain development in single grains during thermal cycling between −170°C and +100°C was measured in situ and local stress variations along the interconnect were investigated. The interconnects show reversible elastic behavior over the whole temperature range, leading to large stresses at low temperatures. The strain state varies locally within single grains, as well as from grain to grain, by as much as 50% in both types of samples. By comparing the experimental findings with elastic finite element modeling, a detailed understanding of the triaxial strain state could be achieved.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 Microscopy Society of America

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