Repository logo
 

Automated Computer Vision-Enabled Manufacturing of Nanowire Devices.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Potočnik, Teja 
Christopher, Peter J 
Mouthaan, Ralf 
Albrow-Owen, Tom 

Abstract

We present a high-throughput method for identifying and characterizing individual nanowires and for automatically designing electrode patterns with high alignment accuracy. Central to our method is an optimized machine-readable, lithographically processable, and multi-scale fiducial marker system─dubbed LithoTag─which provides nanostructure position determination at the nanometer scale. A grid of uniquely defined LithoTag markers patterned across a substrate enables image alignment and mapping in 100% of a set of >9000 scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images (>7 gigapixels). Combining this automated SEM imaging with a computer vision algorithm yields location and property data for individual nanowires. Starting with a random arrangement of individual InAs nanowires with diameters of 30 ± 5 nm on a single chip, we automatically design and fabricate >200 single-nanowire devices. For >75% of devices, the positioning accuracy of the fabricated electrodes is within 2 pixels of the original microscopy image resolution. The presented LithoTag method enables automation of nanodevice processing and is agnostic to microscopy modality and nanostructure type. Such high-throughput experimental methodology coupled with data-extensive science can help overcome the characterization bottleneck and improve the yield of nanodevice fabrication, driving the development and applications of nanostructured materials.

Description

Keywords

automation, computer vision, microscopy, nanofabrication, nanowires

Journal Title

ACS Nano

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1936-0851
1936-086X

Volume Title

16

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)
Sponsorship
Royal Society (DHF\F1\191163)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L016567/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P005152/1)
European Research Council (716471)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/S019324/1)
EPSRC (EP/T008369/1)
EPSRC (EP/V055003/1)
Relationships
Is supplemented by: