Getting started#

Introduction#

Simulation of the FEBID process written in Python. FEBID stands for Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition, a variation of a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process. It uses volatile organometallic molecules (precursor) as material and a controlled electron beam to selectively deposit material on a substrate.

Simulation base features:

  1. Continuum model

  2. Enabled diffusion

  3. Enabled temperature effects

  4. Electron-matter interaction via Monte Carlo simulation

  5. No gas dynamics implications

Installation#

The simulation requires Python 3.7 or later.

Package is available via PyPi: pip install febid

Alternatively, it can be installed directly from GitHub via pip, although that will require compilation of some modules:

pip install git+https://github.com/MrCheatak/FEBID_py

Important

Linux user may need to manually install Tkinter, VTK and PyQt5 into the system: sudo apt-get vtk9 tk python3-pyqt5

Running the first simulation#

In order to run the first simulation, Parameters.yml and Me3PtCpMe.yml parameter files in the Examples folder are needed. As the installation finishes, run python -m febid, which will show the main control panel:

_images/main_pannel_febid.png

There are three main setup steps that are essential for the simulation: space, pattern and parameters of the beam and deposition material. Further instructions will configure a simulation on a 200x200 nm substrate with a stationary 5s exposure of a 30keV 0.15nA beam deposition using the Me3PtCpMe precursor.

Space:

Firstly, a simulation volume domain has to be created. The simplest case is a clean substrate. Choose Parameters option and specify 200x200x200 nm dimensions with 5 nm cell size and 10 nm substrate. This will define a cubic simulation domain divided into voxels with 5 nm edge length. Finally, a 20 nm layer of substrate material (Au) is laid at the bottom.

Pattern:

Next, pattern has to be defined for the controlled beam. Choose Simple patterns and select Point from the drop-down menu. This option will fix the beam at a point specified by X and Y parameters, set both of them to 100 to position the beam at the center of the substrate. The time that the beam will spend at that point is defined by dwell time and repeats parameters. Lets set a 5 s exposure by setting them to 1000 and 5000 correspondingly. A beam is configured now to stay at the (100,100) point for 5 s.

Beam and precursor:

Finally, open Parameters.yml for Settings and Me3PtCpMe.yml for Precursor parameters. The first one specifies the beam parameters and precursor flux, the second provides precursor material properties.

Lastly, uncheck all the saving options and enable Show the process to watch the growth in real time and hit Start.

A new window is then shown with a scene containing the substrate. The scene can be rotated and zoomed to get a better view angle.

Important

Besides the graphical representation, a console is will display simulation info. It is important to keep an eye on it as the deposition progress, execution speed and warnings and errors, if any occur, are output to the console.