Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite surfaces for electrical contact interfaces
Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite surfaces for electrical contact interfaces
MEMS relays boast numerous advantages over PIN diode and FET devices, for example: lower on-resistance, higher isolation and cut-off frequency. There are two common implementations of MEMS switches: capacitively coupled and metal-contacting. Whilst the use of capacitive switches at low frequencies is limited, they tend to be capable of surviving high numbers (>500,000,000) of switching cycles without showing any signs of mechanical failure. For metal-contacting switches, the electrical contacts are mechanically brought into contact without the presence of a dielectric layer on the contacts, consequently enabling the transmission of DC to high frequency signals. A combination of electrical and mechanical factors result in degradation of the contact surfaces over consecutive opening and closing processes which ultimately result in switch failure.
The use of gold-coated multi-walled carbon nanotube (Au/MWCNT) bilayer composites have been investigated as a method for improving the reliability of switch contacts. Using a gold-coated MEMS cantilever beam to test the composite contacts. With a load current of 50 mA (load voltage 4 V), the use of a composites contact resulted in a switching lifetime in excess of 44,000,000 hot switching cycles. With a load current of 10 mA, the lifetime is in excess of 500,000,000 cycles. The use of Au/MWCNT composites offer a promising solution to enhance the lifetime of MEMS switches.
Lewis, Adam P.
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Down, Michael
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McBride, John W.
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Jiang, Liudi
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Spearing, S.M.
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Lewis, Adam P.
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Down, Michael
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McBride, John W.
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Jiang, Liudi
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Spearing, S.M.
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Lewis, Adam P., Down, Michael, McBride, John W., Jiang, Liudi and Spearing, S.M.
(2015)
Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite surfaces for electrical contact interfaces.
IeMRC 9th Annual Conference, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
17 Feb 2015.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Poster)
Abstract
MEMS relays boast numerous advantages over PIN diode and FET devices, for example: lower on-resistance, higher isolation and cut-off frequency. There are two common implementations of MEMS switches: capacitively coupled and metal-contacting. Whilst the use of capacitive switches at low frequencies is limited, they tend to be capable of surviving high numbers (>500,000,000) of switching cycles without showing any signs of mechanical failure. For metal-contacting switches, the electrical contacts are mechanically brought into contact without the presence of a dielectric layer on the contacts, consequently enabling the transmission of DC to high frequency signals. A combination of electrical and mechanical factors result in degradation of the contact surfaces over consecutive opening and closing processes which ultimately result in switch failure.
The use of gold-coated multi-walled carbon nanotube (Au/MWCNT) bilayer composites have been investigated as a method for improving the reliability of switch contacts. Using a gold-coated MEMS cantilever beam to test the composite contacts. With a load current of 50 mA (load voltage 4 V), the use of a composites contact resulted in a switching lifetime in excess of 44,000,000 hot switching cycles. With a load current of 10 mA, the lifetime is in excess of 500,000,000 cycles. The use of Au/MWCNT composites offer a promising solution to enhance the lifetime of MEMS switches.
Text
IeMRC Annual Conference Poster 2015 [17-Feb-15].pdf
- Other
More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 17 February 2015
Additional Information:
Funded by EPSRC: An Innovatative Eletronics Manufacturing Research Centre (EP/H03014X/1)
Venue - Dates:
IeMRC 9th Annual Conference, Loughborough, United Kingdom, 2015-02-17 - 2015-02-17
Organisations:
Engineering Mats & Surface Engineerg Gp, Mechatronics, Engineering Science Unit, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 374663
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/374663
PURE UUID: 578bb3f9-5e3a-4339-b869-c222c123a6f6
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Date deposited: 25 Feb 2015 15:11
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:24
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Contributors
Author:
Adam P. Lewis
Author:
Michael Down
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