Silicon Wafers Used for Electron Diffraction
A materials scientist requested a quote for the following:
I am looking to purchase ~10 silicon wafers, cut in half so that there are <110> type ~flat surfaces on the edge of a [100] through thickness silicon slice. These samples are for x-ray and electron diffraction calibration, and could be lightly doped or not doped, provided as the level and type of doping is known. I am not directly interested in the electrical properties. Theses sample will need to be dislocation (i.e. strain) free and suitable for mounting end on (i.e. [110] pointing out of the page, [-110] left right and [001] pointing up down).
UniversityWafer, Inc. Quoted:
The plant is able to provide 5mm diameter 5um thick thin Si with top surface (100) orientation, the standard in-stock materials are either N/Ph or P/B type with resistivity 1-20ohm.cm. You can break the circle into two halves on his own in order to use for your applications. If this is fine, please let us know and we will provide a quote.
Reference #144425 for specs and pricing.
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What is Electron Diffraction?
Electron Diffraction is a technique that utilizes electrons to study matter, similar to how X-ray or neutron diffraction uses X-rays or neutrons. When a beam of electrons is directed at a specimen, they can be diffracted, producing a diffraction pattern. This pattern can provide information about the structure of the material being studied.
Here's a breakdown of the concept:
- Wave-Particle Duality: To understand electron diffraction, you need to acknowledge the wave-particle duality of electrons, which means that electrons exhibit both particle and wave-like properties. The wave-like nature of electrons is harnessed in electron diffraction.
- Mechanism: When electrons encounter an obstacle, such as the atoms in a crystal, they can scatter or be diffracted. If the spacing between the atoms in the crystal is on the order of the wavelength of the electron wave, a diffraction pattern can be observed.
- Diffraction Patterns: These patterns are made up of spots or rings and can be captured on a screen or detector. The position and intensity of these spots can be used to derive information about the spacing, arrangement, and nature of the atoms in the specimen.
- Applications:
- Electron Microscopes: Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs) often use electron diffraction to provide information about the crystallography of samples.
- Determining Crystal Structures: Electron diffraction can help determine the structure of tiny crystal samples that might be difficult to examine using other methods, such as X-ray diffraction.
- Surface and Interface Studies: Low energy electron diffraction (LEED) is a type of electron diffraction used for surface crystallography.
- Advantages:
- Electrons interact more strongly with matter than X-rays do, so electron diffraction can be used on very thin samples.
- It can be used in conjunction with other electron microscopy techniques.
- Limitations:
- The specimen must be thin enough to allow electrons to pass through, which can limit the type of samples studied.
- The interaction of electrons with matter also means that the samples can be damaged by the electron beam, especially biological specimens.
In summary, electron diffraction is a powerful tool for studying the structural properties of materials on the atomic or molecular scale. It harnesses the wave-like nature of electrons, producing diffraction patterns that provide insights into the nature and arrangement of atoms in a specimen.