Computer simulation of SEM structures of thin films

Current methods for reconstructing surface topography from SEM images are either not suitable at nanometer scales, restricted to simple shapes described by a limited number of parameters or involve time consuming steps. We describe a computer simulation (using C-programming) whereby an initial surface is iteratively updated. This simulation performs a two dimensional reconstruction at the resolution of the SEM images for both high temperature and ageing cases. The simulated SEM images are compared with the actual SEM images and this comparison leads to further refinement of the reconstructed surface. Further justifications of simulated structure are done by determining the unit cell parameters (h k l) with the help of d-values obtained from XRD's of sample (ZnS), and thereby comparison is done using JCPDS data of zinc sulphide.It revealed that zinc sulphide.It generally exists in hexagonal structure. The explanations for non-hexagonal structures are also given.The results of the computer simulations are in agreement with the experimental results.