NEM relays using 2-dimensional nanomaterials for low energy contacts

Abstract

Nanoelectronics based on 2-dimensional layered materials is a field of rapidly growing interest. In particular, graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) exhibit remarkable properties that can be exploited for many applications. Most electronic devices based on 2D materials, however, focus on the electronic properties of the material: 2D materials are usually utilized as semiconducting pathways for carriers (e.g. channels in transistors) or as conductors (e.g. interconnects, transparent conductor). In this work, we investigate the use of 2D materials as interfacial layers to improve the contacts of Nano-Electro-Mechanical(NEM) switches exploiting its surface and mechanical properties. In this study, the 2D layers will be used as the electrical contacts for the moving mechanical relays.