Nano-switch for Study of Gold Contact Behavior

Adam Fruehling, Purdue University - Main Campus
Shijun Xiao, Purdue University - Main Campus
Minghao Qi, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Kaushik Roy, Purdue Univ, Sch Elect & Comp Engn, Network Computat Nanotechnol
Dimitrios Peroulis, Birck Nanotechnology Center and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University

Abstract

In this paper we present the fabrication and characterization of a new NEMS DC switch as a vehicle to characterize Au-to-Au contacts at nano-scale. The switch consists of a 1050-nm long, 200-nm wide and 50-nm thick cantilever gold beam. The measured on-state resistance values range from 83 Omega to 640 Omega and the actuation voltages from 4 V to 22 V. All measurements are conducted at a current of 1 mu A and the obtained values are in good qualitative agreement with traditional elastic-plastic contact models. The calculated switching time is 55 ns. Characterization of contacts at nano-scale will be critical for the success of NEMS devices used in ultra low-power sensors. To this end, we examine the impact of such a switch as a leakage control mechanism.

Discipline(s)

Engineering | Nanoscience and Nanotechnology