Patent Publication Number: US-2011064198-A1

Title: Analytical method

Description:
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2009/057384 filed Apr. 10, 2009, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Document No. 2008-112852, filed on Apr. 23, 2008. The entire disclosures of the prior applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an analytical method in which a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) source is used as an ion beam source irradiating an analytical sample in order to analyze an organic matter in the depth direction in a surface analysis method. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In order to analyze the analytical sample in the depth direction (such as a composition or the chemical bonding state), the sputtering removal of a sample surface is performed by using Ar atom ions having a low energy of about several hundred volts. However, compared to the analytical sample of an organic matter, it is difficult to develop an accurate analysis in the depth direction due to the change in the composition of an Ar atom ion. 
     As ions substitute for Ar atom ions for performing a sputter removal of a soft sample surface, C60 ions are expected and begin to become increasingly popular. However, it has been recognized that C60 ions are not necessarily useable all-around. Especially, C60 ions are unsuitable for the sputtering removal of a functional organic compound such as pigment. 
     For example, as a functional organic material, NPB (4,4′-bis[N-(1-naphthyl-1-)-N-phenyl-amino]-biphenyl) to be used for the hole transport layer of organic EL, is a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring of low molecular weight. It was found that the irradiation of C60 ions to the organic material generates such a disadvantage that the sputtering removal does not proceed due to the decomposition of the sample molecule or the accumulation of carbon. See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-527729 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-134170. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a measuring method that can perform an accurate surface analysis of functional organic compounds in the depth direction. 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to an analytical method of performing an analysis of an object to be analyzed containing an organic compound arranged in a vacuum atmosphere, comprising the steps of ejecting a gas from a nozzle into a reduced-pressure atmosphere lower than an atmospheric pressure to form gas clusters, ionizing the gas cluster to generate gas cluster ions, accelerating the gas cluster ion so that a kinetic energy of the gas cluster ions is less than 3.58 eV per one atom constituting the gas cluster ion, irradiating the object to be analyzed in the vacuum atmosphere with the gas cluster ion which are accelerated to perform etching, and analyzing the surface of the object to be analyzed which is etched. 
     The present invention is directed to the analytical method, comprising the steps of, before accelerating the gas cluster ions in an accelerating step, forming at least one of a magnetic field and an electric field at a position where the gas cluster ions which are accelerated pass through, getting the accelerated gas cluster ions pass through at least one of the magnetic field and the electric field which are formed, and screening a size of the gas cluster ion. 
     The present invention is directed to the analytical method of arranging an organic compound having a C—N bond in the chemical structure in a vacuum atmosphere, irradiating the organic compound with an X-ray, detecting secondary electrons emitted from the organic compound, and performing an analysis of the organic compound, comprising the steps of generating a gas cluster and after that, ionizing the gas cluster to generate gas cluster ions, accelerating the gas cluster ions so that a kinetic energy of the gas cluster ion is less than 3.1 eV per one atom constituting the gas cluster ion, irradiating the organic compound in the vacuum atmosphere with the gas cluster ions which are accelerated to etch the organic compound, and irradiating the surface of the organic compound, not being subjected to the etching and being left behind, with the X-ray. 
     The present invention is directed to the analytical method, comprising the step of, from a nozzle having an interior portion of at least one atmospheric pressure made by an introduced gas, discharging the gas into a vessel to generate the gas clusters. 
     The present invention is directed to the analytical method, comprising the step of introducing a rare gas into the vessel so as to generate the gas clusters of the rare gas. 
     The functional organic compound in the present invention is a functional material that controls the performance of a device, including (1) dye for use in color filters for liquid crystal or the like, (2) a light emitting material in flat panel displays, (3) a light-heat conversion functional material in optical disks, (4) a light-electro conversion functional material in dye-sensitized solar cells, (5) an ink material in printers and photocopiers, (6) a material (such as a hole transport material or an electron transport material) in organic EL elements, (7) sensitizers, or the like. 
     The structure of an example of the functional organic compound (NPB, a hole transport material) is shown below. 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     The functional organic compound has a C—C bond (including a ring-shaped structure (such as, benzene) and a chain-like structure (such as, an alkyl group) and a C—N bond in the main skeleton. The C—N bond has a bond energy of 3.1 eV; and the C—C bond has a bond energy of 3.58 eV. 
     In the present invention, since the kinetic energy per one atom constituting cluster ions is set so as to be less than 3.1 eV, even when the intermolecular bond due to the Van der Waals&#39; force is destroyed and the functional organic compound is etched, the chemical structure of the functional organic compound is not destroyed. 
     With respect to the carbon cluster, carbon might be left on the sample surface at the time of the etching, but when a rare gas cluster (such as, an Ar cluster) is used, the rare gas does not remain on the sample surface; and thus, the sample is not contaminated. 
     EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The etching can be performed without changing the chemical structure of functional organic compounds; and therefore, the surface analysis in the depth direction can be performed accurately. Since the method of performing the etching with cluster ions has a greater etching rate, as compared to cases where C60 ions or Ar single atom ions are used, the analysis in the depth direction can be performed in a shorter time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an example of a measuring apparatus that can be used for the method of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a graph showing a C1s narrow spectral band in Example 1. 
         FIG. 3  is a graph showing an N1s narrow spectral band in Example 1. 
         FIG. 4  is a graph showing a C1s is narrow spectral band in Comparative Example 1. 
         FIG. 5  is a graph showing an N1s narrow spectral band in Comparative Example 1. 
         FIG. 6  is a graph showing a C1s narrow spectral band in Comparative Example 2. 
         FIG. 7  is a graph showing an N1s narrow spectral band in Comparative Example 2. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference numeral  10  in  FIG. 1  shows a measuring apparatus that can be used in the present invention. 
     The measuring apparatus  10  is an apparatus for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis (ESCA: Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis, or XPS: X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), and has a vacuum chamber  11 , an X-ray irradiating apparatus  13 , and a photoelectron detector  14 . 
     A sample stage  17  is provided inside the vacuum chamber  11 ; and a sample  18  to be analyzed is arranged on the surface of the sample stage  17 . 
     A vacuum evacuation system  16  is connected to the vacuum chamber  11 . When the inside of the vacuum chamber  11  is set so as to be a vacuum atmosphere, and an X-ray is irradiated to the sample  18  on the sample stage  17  from the X-ray irradiating apparatus  13 , photoelectrons are emitted from the portion of the sample  18  to which the X-ray has been irradiated. 
     Emitted photoelectrons are detected with the photoelectron detector  14  and the energy distribution of the photoelectrons is measured. From the kind (position) of the peak of the energy distribution, intensity ratio or the like, the qualitative analysis, the quantitative analysis, or the analysis of the chemical-bonding state of the sample  18  is possible. 
     Since photoelectrons generated by the irradiation of the X-ray can only move a short distance inside the sample  18 , photoelectrons detected with the photoelectron detector  14  are limited to those generated in very shallow portions (shallow portions that extend up to a depth range of about several nanometers from the surface) of the surface of the sample  18  and; thus, it is possible to perform the surface analysis of the sample  18 . 
     The measuring apparatus  10  has an ion source  20 . The ion source  20  has a vessel  25 , and a nozzle  21  is arranged in the bottom face of the inside of the vessel  25 . 
     The nozzle  21  is connected to a gas-supplying system  28 , and it is constituted such that, when rare gas is supplied from the gas-supplying system  28  to the nozzle  21 , the rare gas is ejected inside the vessel  25 . 
     When the rare gas is supplied to the inside of the nozzle  21  from the gas-supplying system  28 , the pressure inside the nozzle  21  becomes at least one atmospheric pressure. The inside of the vessel  25  is set to a vacuum atmosphere and the difference in atmospheric pressure is great inside the vessel; and therefore, the rare gas ejected from the nozzle  21  adiabatically expands; and atoms of the rare gas agglutinate, thereby forming huge clusters of tens of atoms to about ten thousand of atoms. Here, argon gas is used as the rare gas, and argon clusters are formed. 
     Inside the vessel  25 , an ionization apparatus  22  and an accelerator  30  are arranged between the nozzle  21  and the opening of the vessel  25  in the described order. 
     Since the argon cluster discharged inside the vessel  25  travels toward the opening of the vessel  25 , the ionization apparatus  22  and the accelerator  30  are in a state of standing in line along the flight direction of the argon cluster. 
     A filament  24  is provided inside the ionization apparatus  22 . The filament  24  is heated to a high temperature by applying current; and thermal electrons are emitted inside the ionization apparatus  22 . The thermal electrons are irradiated by the argon cluster entering the inside of the ionization apparatus  22 ; and the argon cluster is ionized (formed into charged particles), thereby having a positive charge. 
     The accelerator  30  has first and second extraction electrodes  31 ,  32 . The first and second extraction electrodes  31 ,  32  are arranged along the flight direction of the argon cluster, the first extraction electrode  31  being located on the nearer side to the ionization apparatus  22  than the second extraction electrode  32 . That is, the first extraction electrode  31  is located on the upper stream side of the flight direction of the argon cluster; and the second extraction electrode  32  is located on the downstream side of the flight direction of the argon cluster. 
     A through-hole is formed in each of the first and second extraction electrodes  31 ,  32 ; and the ionized argon cluster goes through the through-hole of the first extraction electrode  31 , flies between the first and second extraction electrodes  31  and  32 , goes through the through-hole of the second extraction electrode, and goes toward the opening of the vessel  25 . 
     The first extraction electrode  31  is connected to an acceleration power source  35 . The acceleration power source  35  applies a positive high voltage to the first extraction electrode  31 . The second extraction electrode  32  is grounded and is set at the same ground potential as the vacuum chamber  11 . 
     As described above, since the argon cluster is charged positively, the argon cluster is accelerated by an acceleration electric field formed between the first and second extraction electrodes  31 ,  32  when the cluster flies between the first and second extraction electrodes  31 ,  32 . 
     The ionized argon cluster contains a large cluster of between at least 50 atoms and at most 10000 atoms and a small cluster of less than 50 atoms. 
     Since each of the large cluster, the small cluster, and argon atoms that are not clustered has a positive charge, they are accelerated by the acceleration electric field and travel at a high speed toward the direction of the opening of the vessel  25 . 
     In the traveling direction of ions (such as, the accelerated large cluster), a magnetic field-forming apparatus  23  is provided. Inside the magnetic field-forming apparatus  23 , a magnetic field is preliminary formed in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the ion, and the Lorentz force perpendicular to the traveling direction of the ion is applied to the ions traveling in the magnetic field. 
     Electric charges of ions generated in the ionization apparatus  22  are mostly monovalence (cations) regardless of the size of the cluster; and the same acceleration energy is given to each of the ions. 
     Accordingly, when the initial speed of the ions entering the accelerator  30  is defined as zero, the speed of ions accelerated with the accelerator  30  has a magnitude that is inversely proportional to the mass. 
     The magnitude of the Lorentz force applied to the ions having the same electric charge from the magnetic field is proportional to the flying speed of ions; the small cluster ions with a small mass has a high speed; and the large cluster ions with a large mass has a low speed. Therefore, the small cluster ions receive a large Lorentz force from the magnetic field, and consequently, the traveling direction thereof is largely curved. On the other hand, since the large cluster ions receive a weak Lorentz force and the mass thereof is large, the inertial force is strong. Therefore, they substantially go straight inside the magnetic field-forming apparatus  23 . 
     The sample  18  is placed on the extended line of the straight direction of ions flying inside the ionization apparatus  22 . Therefore, the small cluster ions having the curved traveling direction do not enter the sample  18 , but the large cluster ions which go straight inside the magnetic field-forming apparatus  23  are irradiated on the surface of the sample  18 . The flow of the large cluster ions is referred to as a cluster ion beam (GCIB). It may be that not only the magnetic field but also the electric field or both of the magnetic field and the electric field are formed; and a force perpendicular to the traveling direction is exerted on the ions traveling among these fields in order to obtain GCIB. 
     Next, processes for analyzing the sample  18  with the above-described measuring apparatus  10  will be explained. 
     First, in a preliminary experiment, a cluster ion beam is generated under the same condition as that under which the sample  18  is actually analyzed, ions (large clusters) which go straight through the inside of the magnetic field-forming apparatus  23  and reach the sample stage  17  are subjected to mass analysis in order to obtain the mass of the large cluster. 
     The atomic weight of a gas constituting the large cluster is known; and from the atomic weight and the mass thereof, the number (average value) of atoms constituting the large cluster is obtained. 
     From the obtained number of atoms, an acceleration voltage is obtained so that a kinetic energy is less than 3.1 eV per one atom constituting the large cluster; and the acceleration power source  35  is set to the obtained acceleration voltage. 
     Here, electric charges of ions generated in the ionization apparatus  22  are mostly monovalent regardless of the size of clusters; and the kinetic energy of large clusters before entering the acceleration electric field is negligibly small; and thus, the acceleration voltage is a value obtained by multiplying the number of atoms obtained in the preliminary experiment by 3.1 eV. For example, when the average number of atoms constituting a large cluster is 2000, the acceleration voltage is less than 6.2 kV. 
     A vacuum atmosphere is formed inside the vacuum chamber  11 ; the sample  18  containing a functional organic compound is placed on the sample stage  17 ; and the sample  18  is placed in the vacuum atmosphere. 
     By applying the preset acceleration voltage to the first extraction electrode  31  and generating cluster ions while maintaining the vacuum atmosphere, a large cluster, in which the kinetic energy is less than 3.1 eV per one constituent atom, enters the sample  18 . 
     Since the acceleration voltage is preset on the basis of the number of atoms of the large cluster, the kinetic energy of the above-described small cluster ions or argon atomic ions, which are not clustered, exceeds 3.1 eV per one atom. 
     However, since small clusters and argon atomic ions, which are not clustered, do not reach the sample  18 , eventually cluster ions, in which the kinetic energy is at most 3.1 eV per one constituent atom, enter the sample  18 . 
     The functional organic compound has a C—N bond and C—C bond in the main skeleton. The C—C bond has a bond energy of 3.58 eV; the C—N bond has a bond energy of 3.1 eV; and both are larger than the kinetic energy per one atom constituting the large cluster. Therefore, the sample  18  is etched without destroying the chemical structure of the functional organic compound, and the functional organic compound, which is not changed chemically, is exposed on the surface of the sample  18 . 
     Since a new surface of the sample  18  is exposed when the surface of the sample  18  is etched in the depth direction, by alternately performing photoelectron detection through X-ray irradiation and the etching by the cluster ion beam (large cluster) irradiation, the analysis in the depth direction of the sample  18  being an organic matter can be performed. The surface analysis may be performed while irradiating the new surface with the cluster ion beam. 
     The case where Ar is used as the raw gas of the cluster is explained above, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. At least one kind of rare gas selected from the group consisting of Ar, Xe and Ne can be used. Further, with He, nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ), CF 4 , SF 6  or the like can also be used. 
     Although the size of the cluster ion is not particularly limited, but when the average number of constituent atoms of the cluster ion which reaches the sample  18  becomes less than 50, the etching rate of the sample  18  becomes extremely low. 
     The size of the cluster can be adjusted by changing the form of the nozzle  21  or the pressure inside the nozzle  21 . If the amount of small clusters or ions not being clustered are negligibly small as compared to that of large clusters, small clusters or ions not being clustered may also be allowed to reach the sample  18 , without the need for the magnetic field provided by the magnetic field-forming apparatus  23 . 
     Hereafter, the case where ionized large clusters are allowed to go straight is explained, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. It may be that a magnetic field or an electric field is formed so as to curve the flight direction of ionized large clusters and the sample  18  is arranged ahead of the curved flight direction. In this case, since the flight direction of neutrons not being ionized is not curved, the sample  18  is not irradiated with the neutrons. 
     The composition of the accelerator  30  is also not particularly limited, and three or more extraction electrodes may be arranged. In this case, the voltage between the electrode on the farthest side from the sample  18  (uppermost stream in the flight direction) and the electrode on the nearest side to the sample (downmost stream in the flight direction) is defined as the acceleration voltage. 
     The present invention is not limited to the analysis of the functional organic compounds, but the present invention may also be used for the analysis of the compounds other than the functional organic compounds If the organic compounds have a C—N bond in the chemical structure. 
     In the case where an organic compound to be measured has no C—N bond in the main skeleton, if the kinetic energy of the cluster ion entering the sample  18  is set at less than 3.58 eV per one constituent atom of the cluster ion, the etching can be performed without changing the chemical composition of the organic compound. 
     Summarily, the present invention is a surface analysis method in which the value of the kinetic energy per one constituent atom of the cluster ion is set so as to destroy the main skeleton of the organic compound and the sample of the organic compound is etched. 
     EXAMPLES 
     NPB was deposited on the surface of a silicon substrate in order to form a sample layer consisting of NPB as a test piece. After performing the XPS analysis of the surface of the sample layer, the surface of the sample layer after the XPS analysis was etched by each of Ar cluster ions (Example 1), C60 ions (Comparative Example 1) and Ar single atom ions (Comparative Example 2), and the measurement was performed by XPS at prescribed time intervals. Meanwhile, the measurement interval was every 15 seconds in Example 1, and every 25 minutes in Comparative Examples 1 and 2. 
     The etching condition in Example 1, and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the outline of the XPS measuring apparatus, and XPS measurement condition are shown below. 
     Example 1: Ar Cluster Ion 
     Acceleration voltage of cluster ion: 5 kV 
     Average of cluster size (number of Ar atoms): 2000 
     Kinetic energy per one atom constituting cluster: 2.5 eV 
     Comparative Example 1: C60 Ions 
     Acceleration voltage of C60 ion: 10 kV 
     Irradiation extent of C60 ion: 2.0 mm×2.0 mm 
     Sputtering rate: 1.79 nm/min (in terms of SiO 2 ) 
     Comparative Example 2: Ar +  Ion 
     Acceleration voltage of Ar +  ion: 500 VAr +   
     Irradiation extent of Ar +  ion: 2.0 mm×2.0 mm 
     Sputtering rate: 1.58 nm/min (in terms of SiO 2 ) 
     &lt;Outline of XPS Measuring Apparatus&gt; 
     Type of apparatus: Quantera SXM (full automatic scanning X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyzer, manufactured by ULVAC-PHI, Inc.) 
     Ultimate vacuum: 7.0×10 −10  Torr 
     X-ray source: monochromatic AlKα (1486.6 eV) 
     Spectroscope: electrostatic concentric hemispherical analyzer 
     Detector: multi-channel system (32 Multi-Channel Detector) 
     Setting of neutralizing gun electron: 1.0 V (20 μA), ion: 10.0 V (7 mA) 
     Xps Measurement Condition (Example 1) 
     X-ray beam diameter: 400 μmφ (24.9 W, 15 kV) 
     Measurement area: 0.4 mmφ 
     Angle of capturing signal: 45.0° 
     Pass energy: 46.5 eV (C1s, O1s, Si2p), 117.4 eV (N1s) 
     XPS Measurement Condition (Comparative Examples 1 and 2) 
     X-ray beam diameter: 100 μmφ (24.9 W, 15 kV) 
     Measurement area: 0.1 mmφ 
     Angle of capturing signal: 45.0° 
     Pass energy: 112.0 eV (C1s, N1s, O1s, Si2p) 
       FIGS. 2 to 7  are graphs showing the measurement result of the XPS analysis for each sputtering time (etching time); the abscissa axis shows the binding energy value (eV); and the ordinate axis shows the intensity (counts) of the photoelectron. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  correspond to Example 1;  FIGS. 4 and 5  correspond to Comparative Example 1; and  FIGS. 6 and 7  correspond to Comparative Example 2.  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  6  show the narrow spectral band of C1s; and  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  7  show the narrow spectral band of N1s. 
     In Example 1, peaks of C and N disappeared at a sputtering time of 60 seconds; and the sample layer was etched and removed ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In contrast, in Comparative Example 2, peaks of C and N disappeared at a sputtering time of 100 minutes ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), and in Comparative Example 1, peaks of C and N remained even after the lapse of 150 minutes ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). From the above-discussed experiments, it is known that the present invention has a high sputtering rate as compared to the cases where C60 ions or Ar ions are used. 
     Meanwhile, when the atomic concentration of the surface was measured while etching the test piece, Si was detected at 0.5 minutes or later in Example 1, but it was detected at 60 minutes or later in Comparative Example 2, and no Si was detected even after the lapse of 120 minutes in Comparative Example 1. From the above, it was also confirmed that the sputtering rate of the present application is high. 
     The symbol P B  in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  6  shows the position when the peak derived from a benzene ring appears; and the symbol P N  in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  7  shows the position when the peak of N1s before the sputtering appears. 
     In Example 1, the peak derived from a benzene ring appeared both before and after the sputtering ( FIG. 2 ), but in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the peak derived from a benzene ring disappeared after the sputtering ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ). Moreover, in Example 1, the appearance position of the N1s peak showed no change and also the peak width thereof showed almost no change ( FIG. 3 ), but in contrast, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the width of the N1s peak broadened after the sputtering ( FIGS. 5 and 7 ). Furthermore, in Comparative Example 2, the N1s peak appearance position shifted to the higher binding energy side. This is presumably due to the fact that the chemical structure of NBP has changed and a double bond of N was formed. 
     Table 1 below shows the atomic composition ratio (N/(C+N)) before and after the sputtering. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Atomic composition ratio of NBP: N/(C + N) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 After  
               
               
                   
                 Surface 
                 sputtering 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Comparative Example 1: 
                 4.0% 
                 1.7% 
               
               
                 C60 (10 kV)  
                   
                   
               
               
                 Comparative Example 2: 
                 4.3% 
                 2.4% 
               
               
                 Ar (500 V) 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Example 1: 
                 4.1% 
                 4.5% 
               
               
                 Ar Cluster (5 kV) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In Comparative Examples 1 and 2, N decreased by nearly half after the sputtering, but in contrast, in Example 1, the amount of N did not decrease and the variation thereof was small. 
     From the above-described result, it is understood that, according to the present invention, functional organic compounds can be etched and removed without the chemical change thereof. 
     The present invention aims at etching (sputtering) an organic compound without changing the composition thereof and analyzing the exposed surface thereof. In the above-described explanation, the analytical method using an X-ray was described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to a method of analyzing the surface by irradiation with ion and by measuring secondary ions, as SIMS.