Investigation of the Measurement Systems’ Suitability for the Non-Destructive Measurement of Complex Polymer-Based Micro and Nanostructures

In the fabrication of optical polymer-based components, such as diffractive gratings and waveguides, high throughput and high precision are required. The non-destructive evaluation of these complex polymer-based structures is a significant challenge. Different measurement techniques can measure the...

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Main Authors: Selina Burkert, Lukas Schwörer, Tim Schubert, Jana Grundmann, David Stein, Andreas Heinrich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Metrology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8244/4/4/40
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author Selina Burkert
Lukas Schwörer
Tim Schubert
Jana Grundmann
David Stein
Andreas Heinrich
author_facet Selina Burkert
Lukas Schwörer
Tim Schubert
Jana Grundmann
David Stein
Andreas Heinrich
author_sort Selina Burkert
collection DOAJ
description In the fabrication of optical polymer-based components, such as diffractive gratings and waveguides, high throughput and high precision are required. The non-destructive evaluation of these complex polymer-based structures is a significant challenge. Different measurement techniques can measure the structure geometry directly or via its functionality indirectly. This study investigates various measurement techniques aimed at assessing these structures from 200 nm up to 20 µm. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), white light interferometry (WLI), atomic force microscopy (AFM), micro computed tomography (µCT), optical coherence tomography (OCT), phase contrast microscopy (PCM), and Mueller matrix ellipsometry (MME) are investigated for their practical limits of lateral resolution and aspect ratio. The impact of the specimens’ complexity factors, including structure width and aspect ratio, on measurement quality is discussed. A particular focus of this study is on the suitability of different measurement systems for evaluating undercuts and enclosed structures while considering structure size, slant angle, and cover thickness. The aim is to discuss the specific advantages of the individual measurement systems and their application areas in order to be able to quickly select suitable measurement systems for a non-destructive evaluation of polymer-based micro and nanostructures.
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spelling doaj-art-11cb166e9bbc4b90a418e2676c8df48b2024-12-27T14:40:17ZengMDPI AGMetrology2673-82442024-11-014467369410.3390/metrology4040040Investigation of the Measurement Systems’ Suitability for the Non-Destructive Measurement of Complex Polymer-Based Micro and NanostructuresSelina Burkert0Lukas Schwörer1Tim Schubert2Jana Grundmann3David Stein4Andreas Heinrich5Aalen School of Applied Photonics, Aalen University of Applied Science, 73430 Aalen, GermanyAalen School of Applied Photonics, Aalen University of Applied Science, 73430 Aalen, GermanyInstitute for Materials Research, Aalen University of Applied Science, 73430 Aalen, GermanyPhysikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, 38116 Braunschweig, GermanyInstitute of Physics, University of Augsburg, 86150 Augsburg, GermanyAalen School of Applied Photonics, Aalen University of Applied Science, 73430 Aalen, GermanyIn the fabrication of optical polymer-based components, such as diffractive gratings and waveguides, high throughput and high precision are required. The non-destructive evaluation of these complex polymer-based structures is a significant challenge. Different measurement techniques can measure the structure geometry directly or via its functionality indirectly. This study investigates various measurement techniques aimed at assessing these structures from 200 nm up to 20 µm. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), white light interferometry (WLI), atomic force microscopy (AFM), micro computed tomography (µCT), optical coherence tomography (OCT), phase contrast microscopy (PCM), and Mueller matrix ellipsometry (MME) are investigated for their practical limits of lateral resolution and aspect ratio. The impact of the specimens’ complexity factors, including structure width and aspect ratio, on measurement quality is discussed. A particular focus of this study is on the suitability of different measurement systems for evaluating undercuts and enclosed structures while considering structure size, slant angle, and cover thickness. The aim is to discuss the specific advantages of the individual measurement systems and their application areas in order to be able to quickly select suitable measurement systems for a non-destructive evaluation of polymer-based micro and nanostructures.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8244/4/4/40measurement analysisscanning electron microscopywhite light interferometryatomic force microscopymicro computed tomographyoptical coherence tomography
spellingShingle Selina Burkert
Lukas Schwörer
Tim Schubert
Jana Grundmann
David Stein
Andreas Heinrich
Investigation of the Measurement Systems’ Suitability for the Non-Destructive Measurement of Complex Polymer-Based Micro and Nanostructures
Metrology
measurement analysis
scanning electron microscopy
white light interferometry
atomic force microscopy
micro computed tomography
optical coherence tomography
title Investigation of the Measurement Systems’ Suitability for the Non-Destructive Measurement of Complex Polymer-Based Micro and Nanostructures
title_full Investigation of the Measurement Systems’ Suitability for the Non-Destructive Measurement of Complex Polymer-Based Micro and Nanostructures
title_fullStr Investigation of the Measurement Systems’ Suitability for the Non-Destructive Measurement of Complex Polymer-Based Micro and Nanostructures
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of the Measurement Systems’ Suitability for the Non-Destructive Measurement of Complex Polymer-Based Micro and Nanostructures
title_short Investigation of the Measurement Systems’ Suitability for the Non-Destructive Measurement of Complex Polymer-Based Micro and Nanostructures
title_sort investigation of the measurement systems suitability for the non destructive measurement of complex polymer based micro and nanostructures
topic measurement analysis
scanning electron microscopy
white light interferometry
atomic force microscopy
micro computed tomography
optical coherence tomography
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8244/4/4/40
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AT timschubert investigationofthemeasurementsystemssuitabilityforthenondestructivemeasurementofcomplexpolymerbasedmicroandnanostructures
AT janagrundmann investigationofthemeasurementsystemssuitabilityforthenondestructivemeasurementofcomplexpolymerbasedmicroandnanostructures
AT davidstein investigationofthemeasurementsystemssuitabilityforthenondestructivemeasurementofcomplexpolymerbasedmicroandnanostructures
AT andreasheinrich investigationofthemeasurementsystemssuitabilityforthenondestructivemeasurementofcomplexpolymerbasedmicroandnanostructures