<azonenberg> So I think I have a pretty good idea of what's been causing my fab problems
<kristianpaul> listen
<azonenberg> The layer thickness in lift-off when the deposited layer is spin coated
<azonenberg> is somewhat dependent on photoresist thickness
<azonenberg> iow in small features like the 20um squares i was testing on, the hardmask pools in the holes and doesnt thin by too much when spun
<azonenberg> This results in a several hundred nm to nearly a micron thick hardmask which cracks during the hard bake
<azonenberg> Now that i've figured out a cleaning process that removes silicon particles left from scribing, i can get away with a far thinner layer
<azonenberg> So i'm going to dilute the photoresist with acetone and try making it thinner
<azonenberg> Then spin coat (diluted) hardmask over it
<azonenberg> Followed by lift-off in acetone
<azonenberg> The end result should be a much thinner tantalum chloride layer which wont crack during baking
<kristianpaul> are you afraid something else may crack during bake?
<kristianpaul> ah, okay more thinner less posible brake :-)
<azonenberg> There is nothing else to crack lol
<azonenberg> Just silicon, which doesnt mind heat
<kristianpaul> hehe, sorry just reading here when have time, but very interesting fnidings :)
<azonenberg> I feel like i'm getting close
<azonenberg> I'm knocking off one yield problem after another
<azonenberg> Oh, thinner photoresist will also expose and develop faster
<azonenberg> as there's less PR to react with
<bart416> azonenberg, would you do it; unpaid internship; agilent
<azonenberg> bart416: As me (PhD student with full funding) or as you (whatever your situation is)?
<bart416> me
<azonenberg> Whats your situation now? Lol
<bart416> In 2 years I'll have a masters degree in EE
<azonenberg> I could see it being interesting but i suspect you might be able to find a paid position
<bart416> Yeah, that's the thing
<azonenberg> Check TI and all of the other big companies
<bart416> TI doesn't really have things in Europe
<azonenberg> i have a friend doing paid summer work at TI this summer
<azonenberg> And ok, europe
<bart416> I'm also looking into Alcatel-Lucent
<azonenberg> Not sure what the big companies there are - NXP, renesas?
<bart416> (Bell Labs)
<bart416> Philips used to do LCD TV R&D not too far from here but they closed it down last year
<bart416> Going to ask my professors about maybe something at IMEC
<bart416> But yeah, the thing is; eventually on your curriculum; some unknown company vs. agilent
<bart416> It's worth considering
<azonenberg> Agreed
<azonenberg> I just suggest you look around and try finding another big company that offers paid work
<bart416> Yeah
<bart416> Might not matter much as I'm looking into a scholarship abroad that would require me to start over but yeah
<bart416> But I'll know more about that at the end of the month
<bart416> But yeah, I'm going to try to contact somebody at Alcatel, you never know
<bart416> Bell Labs isn't exactly a small player either eh :P
<bart416> Mhhh, NXP seems to have an office in Leuven
<bart416> But that's rather far :(
<bart416> If I get up at 5:30 I'd be in Leuven by maybe 8:15
<bart416> I'll look into it
<bart416> Mhhh, they're looking for a lot of people at NXP actually in Belgium
<bart416> But none in the field that interests me the most :(