Affected area; Bi-layer; Electropulsing; Kelvin probe force microscopy; Localised; Materials modification; Micro-bridge; Multi terminals; Scanning electrons; Secondary electron detectors; Physics and Astronomy (all); General Physics and Astronomy
Abstract :
[en] We investigate targeted and localized material modifications produced by electropulsing of Al-capped Nb microbridges with a multiterminal configuration. The affected regions of the Nb/Al bilayer terminals are revealed by an in-lens secondary-electron detector in a scanning electron microscope and by Kelvin-probe force microscopy, both suggesting a decrease in the work function in the modified areas. In contrast, the affected areas are neither apparent through an Everhart-Thornley secondary-electron detector nor through atomic force microscopy, which indicates little morphological change in the microstructure. In addition, we demonstrate that the extent of the electroannealed regions is strongly influenced by the terminal geometry. These results are captured by complementary finite-element modeling, which permits us to estimate that a threshold temperature of 435±35 K is needed to induce material modifications. These findings provide further insights into the subtle modifications produced by gentle electroannealing of Nb/Al microstructures and represent a step forward towards mastering this emerging nanofabrication technique.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Marinkovic, Stefan ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Complex and Entangled Systems from Atoms to Materials (CESAM)
Abbey, E.A. ; Experimental Physics of Nanostructured Materials, Q-MAT, CESAM, Université de Liège, Belgium ; Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Chaves, D.A.D. ; Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil ; Quantum Solid-State Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Collienne, Simon ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Complex and Entangled Systems from Atoms to Materials (CESAM)
Fourneau, Emile ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Complex and Entangled Systems from Atoms to Materials (CESAM)
Jiang, L. ; Experimental Physics of Nanostructured Materials, Q-MAT, CESAM, Université de Liège, Belgium ; School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
Xue, C. ; School of Mechanics, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
Zhou, Y.H.; School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China ; Key Lab. of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, Ministry of Education of China, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Ortiz, W.A. ; Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Motta, M. ; Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Nguyen, Ngoc Duy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Physique des solides, interfaces et nanostructures
Volodin, A. ; Quantum Solid-State Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Van De Vondel, J. ; Quantum Solid-State Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Silhanek, Alejandro ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Physique expérimentale des matériaux nanostructurés
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE] FWO - Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen [BE] FAPESP - São Paulo Research Foundation [BR] CNPq - National Council for Scientific and Technological Development [BR] CAPES - Coordination of Higher Education Personnel Improvement [BR]
Funding text :
The authors acknowledge support from the EU COST action SUPERQUMAP CA21144, the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique—FNRS under Grants No. PDR T.0204.21 and No. CDR J.0176.22, and the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium), Grant No. G0A0619N. This work was partially supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Grant No. 2021/08781-8 and 2022/03124-1), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Grants No. 316602/2021-3 and No. 309928/2018-4), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil (CAPES), Finance Code 001. E.A.A. and D.A.D.C. acknowledge Capes-PDSE Grants No. 88881.624496/2021-01 and No. 88881.624531/2021-01, respectively. S.M. acknowledges support from FRS-FNRS (ASP Research Fellowship). The work of L.J. was supported by the China Scholarship Council.
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