The aim of this large-scale project is to provide training for young European scientists in the field of nanotechnology so that they can generate the innovative ideas necessary to further research and scientific exploitation, so enhancing Europe’s international competitivity. The network is led by Oddur Ingólfsson, of the Icelandic University in Reykjavík, and Empa’s representative is Ivo Utke from the Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures Laboratory in Thun. Empa was already involved in the predecessor project to «ELENA», the COST-Action Network «CELINA» (chemistry for electron-induced nanofabrication), where it worked closely with some of the universities now participating in the current project. The aim of «CELINA» was to investigate the suitability of low volatility materials for directly writing with focused electron beams using a gas injection system (developed in-house) with a scanning electron microscope. Over the coming four years the EU will make available about €4 million for the ELENA project. Two state-of-the-art nanotechnology processes are the focus of the network: Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition, (FEBID) and Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUVL). Writing extremely fine structures in three dimensions The FEBID technique makes use of an extremely finely focused electron beam. This is used to “write” three-dimensional structures of any required shape on a surface, such as the silicon wafers from which computer chips are manufactured. The structures are created by a form of «additive manufacturing», in that absorbing molecules, which are continuously supplied to the surface in question, are then broken up by an electron beam, following which certain parts of the molecule are locally deposited onto the substrate. The process requires the use of molecules containing the necessary component parts – these are then freed by the electron beam to create the required material composition on the substrate. Imprinting functional materials In the course of the ELENA project material scientists, chemists and physicists will work together to develop and test molecules which are suitable for the FEBID technique. This process has been the subject of research at Empa for the past 10 years or so and has already been successfully applied to writing magnetic sensors with the highest lateral magnetic resolution. For this purpose the Empa researchers used the Co2(CO)8 molecule, which allowed them to write a granular cobalt compound with special magnetic properties in a carbon-containing matrix on a silicon oxide layer between several gold electrodes. Another application has been realised in the area of nanophotonics: the initial substance, gold Me2Au(tfa) was used to write an optical lattice on a vertically-cavity surface emitting laser in a minimally invasive manner. The EUVL technique also imprints extremely fine structures on surfaces, although it is limited to two dimensions. Specially adapted materials are also necessary for this process to function correctly, in this case thin films known as photoresists. When these films are irradiated with EUV light in the appropriate way they efficiently and precisely create the required structures. The search for new molecules for additive writing on pure metals using FEBID, and new photoresists for EUVL is at the focus of the research efforts of a total of 15 outstanding doctoral students working on the ELENA project. Ivo Utke’s group, with two postdocs and three PhD students, is testing possible ways of controlling the deposited components of the absorbing molecule as a function of the intensity of the electron beams and molecule flows in a scanning electron microscope. http://www.empa.ch/en/web/s604/nanostructures
Address for enquiries:
Further information
Dr. Ivo Utke, Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures Laboratory, Tel. +41 58 765 62 57, ivo.utke@empa.ch
Editor / Media Contact
Martina Peter, Communication Tel. +41 58 765 49 87, redaktion@empa.ch
Publisher:
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
