Nanoelectromechanical Systems Research Articles

Electrical Arc Discharge in Air between Pt-Coated NEMS electrodes at Nanoscale Separation

Abstract A thorough understanding of arc discharge mechanism as well as determination of arc discharge voltage at the nanometer scale remains challenging due to the complexities associated with electrode preparation and precisely maintaining nanoscale separations in experiments. This work addresses this challenge through a novel approach by accurately measuring electric breakdown/discharge voltages between Pt-coated Si electrodes with separations ranging from ~5 nm to 370 nm using a combination of fixed and flexible nano-electrodes while inherently creating an ideal environment to mitigate the effect of mechanical vibrations on the measurement results. For separations of 10, 100, and 300 nm, the corresponding discharge voltages are ~15, 75, and 160 V, respectively, with the apparent electric field for the 10 nm separation exceeding 1.5 GV/m. The results acquired from the investigated electrode configuration closely resembling the laterally actuated nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) cantilever relays reveals strong agreement with NEMS relay breakdown characteristics, emphasizing the importance of arc discharge considerations while designing micro/nano electromechanical devices. Furthermore, deliberately applied arc discharge is shown to provide electrode nano-welding for realization of configurable NEMS circuits.

Fabrication of silicon sharp nanocones using dry etch with periodic oxygen plasma shrinking and wet etch

Silicon (Si) nanocones have a wide range of applications in microelectromechanical systems and nanoelectromechanical systems. There is an increasing demand for precise control over the size and shape of nanocones. This paper proposed a novel method combining Si dry etch with periodic oxygen plasma shrinking, wet etch, and oxidation sharpening to achieve well-defined sharp Si nanocones. First, the standard Bosch process was employed to create the base part of nanocones. Second, two alternating steps of etching with sulfur hexafluoride/octafluorocyclobutane plasma and photoresist shrinkage with oxygen plasma were used to form the cone-shaped structures on top of the cylindrical bases. Third, to obtain a sharp tip, wet etching was carried out in either potassium hydroxide or a nitric acid/hydrofluoric (HF) acid mixture. To further sharpen the Si tips, thermal oxidation and HF dipping were conducted and the apex of nanocones can be down to 20 nm. This technique provides a cost-effective way to manufacture nanocones for various applications.

Examining the critical speed and electro-mechanical vibration response of a spinning smart single-walled nanotube via nonlocal strain gradient theory

In this study, the stability and vibration analyses of a spinning smart nanotube under electrical loads are examined for the first time. The smart nanotube structure is made from a single-walled zinc oxide nanotube (SWZnONT) due to its extraordinary piezoelectric and magnetic properties, which have great potential for use as a rotating component in nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). To achieve this aim, nonlocal strain gradient theory and Maxwell’s electrostatic equations are used to capture the structure’s small-scale and piezoelectric effects, respectively. In addition, the nanotube’s structural model is based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, deriving governing equations and boundary conditions via the Hamilton principle. A technique employing Galerkin-based closed-form solutions is utilized to solve the equations of motion and get the vibration response of the spinning smart nanotube. Finally, the effects of the material length scale, nonlocal parameter, rotating speed, external voltage, and boundary conditions on natural frequency and critical rotational speed are investigated. The study results indicate that applying an external voltage to spinning SWZnONT effectively adjusts the critical speed and enhances structural stability.

Bioinspired and Multifunctional Tribological Materials for Sliding, Erosive, Machining, and Energy-Absorbing Conditions: A Review.

Friction, wear, and the consequent energy dissipation pose significant challenges in systems with moving components, spanning various domains, including nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS/MEMS) and bio-MEMS (microrobots), hip prostheses (biomaterials), offshore wind and hydro turbines, space vehicles, solar mirrors for photovoltaics, triboelectric generators, etc. Nature-inspired bionic surfaces offer valuable examples of effective texturing strategies, encompassing various geometric and topological approaches tailored to mitigate frictional effects and related functionalities in various scenarios. By employing biomimetic surface modifications, for example, roughness tailoring, multifunctionality of the system can be generated to efficiently reduce friction and wear, enhance load-bearing capacity, improve self-adaptiveness in different environments, improve chemical interactions, facilitate biological interactions, etc. However, the full potential of bioinspired texturing remains untapped due to the limited mechanistic understanding of functional aspects in tribological/biotribological settings. The current review extends to surface engineering and provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of bioinspired texturing that exhibits sustainable synergy between tribology and biology. The successful evolving examples from nature for surface/tribological solutions that can efficiently solve complex tribological problems in both dry and lubricated contact situations are comprehensively discussed. The review encompasses four major wear conditions: sliding, solid-particle erosion, machining or cutting, and impact (energy absorbing). Furthermore, it explores how topographies and their design parameters can provide tailored responses (multifunctionality) under specified tribological conditions. Additionally, an interdisciplinary perspective on the future potential of bioinspired materials and structures with enhanced wear resistance is presented.

Performance analysis of electrical signal output of multi-state flexoelectric structures with parameter uncertainties through quasi-Monte Carlo method

Flexoelectric effect is a more universal electromechanical coupling effect than piezoelectric effect. Flexoelectric beams as the main structural component of flexoelectric power signal output have broad application prospects in the next generation of micro–nano electromechanical systems. However, the electrical signal output of flexoelectric structures in macro-scale is far less than the output of the piezoelectric signal. Therefore, it is urgent to explore the influence of the parameter uncertainties on the electrical signal output of the flexoelectric structures, in order to improve the electrical signal output of flexoelectric materials with excellent design performance. Based on the quasi-static theory, the output voltage model and the output charge model of flexoelectric structures as well as the effective piezoelectric coefficient model are constructed. Then the influences of the flexoelectric parameters on the output voltage and the output charge are researched as well as the influence of the effective piezoelectric coefficient. Finally, the influences of uncertain parameters under different electrical states (e.g. the electrical open circuit and short circuit states) on the output performance of flexoelectric signal are studied by the quasi-Monte Carlo method, in order to further provide a reference for the reliability analysis and optimization design of the flexoelectric structures.

Review of: "Micro and nano-electromechanical systems ( MEMS / NEMS ) are devices in which the physical motion of a micro- or nano-scale structure is controlled by an electronic circuit"

Review of: "Micro and nano-electromechanical systems ( MEMS / NEMS ) are devices in which the physical motion of a micro- or nano-scale structure is controlled by an electronic circuit"

Comparison of the Casimir force between SiC plates with different permittivity models: Lorentz model and Palik data

Accurate calculation of Casimir forces is essential for the development of micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. Silicon carbide (SiC) is an excellent material for fabricating microsensors due to its high durability, high stiffness, and low thermal expansion. The permittivity of the SiC could be characterized by the Lorentz model or the Palik data. However, the influence of the two models of calculating permittivity on the Casimir force has not been discussed. In this work, we calculate the Casimir force between SiC plates by the Lorentz model and the Palik data, respectively. The Casimir force calculated by the Lorentz model could be 4 times greater than the Palik data for SiC at a gap distance of 10 nm. The difference of the permittivity in the ultraviolet lead to different Casimir forces. This work demonstrates the difference between the two models of permittivity for calculating the SiC-based Casimir force, and provides a reliable base for more accurate Casimir force calculations.

Atomistic details of grain, crack, and notch effect on the mechanical behavior and fracture mechanisms of monolayer silicon carbide

Recently, sp2-hybridized single-layer SiC, analogous to graphene, has received much attention in nanoelectronics and nanoelectromechanical systems because of its remarkable thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties. However, the unique properties and related applications strongly depend on the growth of a single-crystal and large-area two-dimensional SiC. The majority of synthesized SiC monolayers exhibit a natural polycrystalline structure, comprising single-crystalline grains with diverse sizes and orientations. Moreover, the emergence of structural defects, including cracks and notches, poses challenges that are difficult to overcome during both the fabrication and subsequent processing stages. In this paper, we explore the atomistic details of grain, crack, and notch effect on the mechanical behaviors and fracture mechanisms of single-layer SiC using molecular dynamics simulations. Increasing grain size from 2 nm to 35 nm gradually increases the elastic modulus and fracture strength, which fits well with the inverse Pseudo Hall-Petch relationship. However, an anomalous trend of decreasing as well as increasing fracture strain is observed with the increasing grain size. For polycrystalline SiC with a 2 nm grain size, the elastic modulus and fracture strength are roughly 87% and 41% of those observed in single-crystalline SiC. Notably, when comparing the impact of rectangular crack and circular notch defects, the circular notch exhibited a more pronounced effect in diminishing mechanical behavior under both armchair and zigzag orientational loading. The circular notch produces considerable amorphization around the notch, but the rectangular crack does not show any significant dislocation or amorphization around the crack. The critical stress intensity factor, energy release rate, radial distribution function, and potential energy per atom are calculated to explain all the fracture properties. The effect of temperature and strain rate is also investigated for all the defect-induced samples. Overall, our results provide new insight and understanding of the mechanical behavior and fracture mechanisms of polycrystalline, crack- and notch-induced SiC, and set a standard for making and designing new nanodevices and nanostructures made of SiC.

Vibration characteristics of multilayer functionally graded microplates with variable thickness reinforced by graphene platelets resting on the viscoelastic medium under thermal effects

Due to their improved mechanical properties and adaptability, microplates with tailored variable thickness profiles are becoming essential parts of advanced micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). This study conducts a thorough analytical analysis of the vibration properties of thermally loaded, multilayer functionally graded graphene platelet-reinforced composite (FG-GPLRC) microplates of linearly or parabolically varying thickness resting on viscoelastic medium under different boundary conditions. The Halpin–Tsai micromechanical model and the law of mixtures are employed to calculate the effective material characteristics for various reinforcement distributions in the microplate. These distributions encompass uniformly symmetric and asymmetric arrangements. The study utilized the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) in conjunction with the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) and Hamilton's principle to generate the dynamic governing equations for the structure, accounting for size-dependent effects. The resulting equations are afterwards solved using the utilization of the Galerkin technique. This enables the evaluation of the proposed solution's correctness and precision. The impact of various factors on vibration behavior is investigated through numerical analysis. These factors encompass length scale parameters, temperature fluctuations, temperature distribution profiles, boundary conditions, the distribution pattern of the GPL, taper constants in both unidirectional and bidirectional scenarios, the weight fraction of the GPL.

Piezoelectric Applications of Low-Dimensional Composites and Porous Materials.

Low-dimensional (LD) materials, with atomically thin anisotropic structures, exhibit remarkable physical and chemical properties, prominently featuring piezoelectricity resulting from the absence of centrosymmetry. This characteristic has led to diverse applications, including sensors, actuators, and micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. While piezoelectric effects are observed across zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D), and two-dimensional (2D) LD materials, challenges such as effective charge separation and crystal structure imperfections limit their full potential. Addressing these issues requires innovative solutions, with the integration of LD materials with polymers, ceramics, metals, and other porous materials proving a key strategy to significantly enhance piezoelectric properties. This review comprehensively covers recent advances in synthesizing and characterizing piezoelectric composites based on LD materials and porous materials. The synergistic combination of LD materials with other substances, especially porous materials, demonstrates notable performance improvements, addressing inherent challenges. The review also explores future directions and challenges in developing these composite materials, highlighting potential applications across various technological domains.

Atomistic simulation of the mechanical behaviors of the pristine and vacancy-induced Ti2C MXene: Effect of temperature, strain rate, and chirality

In context with growing concerns regarding mechanical damage in nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) and energy devices, this study implemented atomistic molecular dynamics simulation to examine the mechanical performance of Ti2C MXene, a high prospectus material in the field of NEMS and energy technologies. Bond-order Tersoff potential was employed to assess the distinction in the mechanical performance of pristine and vacancy-induced Ti2C depending on different physiological conditions, including temperature, loading rate, and chirality. A competitive elastic modulus of 130.72 GPa and 129.12 GPa has been determined along the armchair and zigzag chirality. However, tensile strength along armchair chirality was found to be 30.52 GPa, 21.4% greater than its contrary direction, whereas zigzag chirality withstands 13.55% greater strain at failure than the armchair chirality, measuring 0.273. Superior tensile strength is observed in armchair chirality, whereas zigzag chirality withstands more significant strain at failure. Mechanical attributes show declining trends as the temperature rises; however, the trend is upward while loading happens rapidly. Both carbon and titanium point vacancies degrade mechanical characteristics individually, but the conjugal influence of temperature and point vacancy makes the deterioration more severe. Carbon, the central constituent element, was found to be more significant in the functionality of Ti2C MXene. Therefore, carbon vacancy shows higher formation energy and more significant deterioration in mechanical performance than titanium vacancy. This exhaustive investigation will significantly aid in the safe design of MXene-based nanoelectromechanical devices and catalyze further experimental research on the same layered materials.

Powering an autonomous clock with quantum electromechanics

We theoretically analyse an autonomous clock comprising a nanoelectromechanical system, which undergoes self-oscillations driven by electron tunnelling. The periodic mechanical motion behaves as the clockwork, similar to the swinging of a pendulum, while induced oscillations in the electrical current can be used to read out the ticks. We simulate the dynamics of the system in the quasi-adiabatic limit of slow mechanical motion, allowing us to infer statistical properties of the clock’s ticks from the current auto-correlation function. The distribution of individual ticks exhibits a tradeoff between accuracy, resolution, and dissipation, as expected from previous literature. Going beyond the distribution of individual ticks, we investigate how clock accuracy varies over different integration times by computing the Allan variance. We observe non-monotonic features in the Allan variance as a function of time and applied voltage, which can be explained by the presence of temporal correlations between ticks. These correlations are shown to yield a precision advantage for timekeeping over the timescales that the correlations persist. Our results illustrate the non-trivial features of the tick series produced by nanoscale clocks, and pave the way for experimental investigation of clock thermodynamics using nanoelectromechanical systems.

Smart alloy metalized novel photonic NEMS photodiode with CuAlV/n-Si/Al junction structure

In this work, a novel smart (shape memory) alloy metalized photonic silicon wafer photodiode with Schottky type CuAlV/n-Si/Al contact structure as a nano-electro-mechanical-system (NEMS) photodevice was fabricated by thermal evaporation technique. The CuAlV memory alloy used as the top Schottky metal contact electrode was produced by arc melting technique and a subsequent quenching in an iced-brine water medium, and its shape memory effect characteristics were revealed by thermal and structural tests. The fabricated photonic NEMS photodiode was characterized by different photo-electrical (I-V, I-t) and frequency/time dependent and illuminated capacitance (C–V/f, C-t, C–V/ill.) and conductance-voltage (G-V) measurements under different frequencies and artificial light intensity power conditions. The I-V tests showed an excellent current rectifying ability and very well net photocurrent generation features of the photodiode. The specific detectivity of the photodiode was found as high as almost approaching 1011 Jones. The SCLC (space charge limited current conduction) analyses made on the double-log I-V plots of the photodiode revealed that the trap-filling TFL-SCLC and trap-free SCLC current conduction mechanisms are the two prevailing conduction mechanisms in the forward bias voltage region. The density of interface states (Dit) of the fabricated photodiode was determined. Moreover, an excellent reproducibility of light-induced photocapacitance formation of the novel photodiode was demonstrated by C–V/t measurements under different artificial light power intensities.

The effect of the viscoelastic support and GRPL-reinforced foam material on the thermomechanical vibration response of piezomagnetic sandwich nanosensor plates

This paper investigates the vibration characteristics of a sandwich nanosensor plate composed of piezoelectric materials, specifically barium and cobalt, in the upper and lower layers, and a core material consisting of either ceramic (silicon nitride) or metal (stainless steel) foams reinforced with graphene (GPRL). The study utilized the novel sinosoidal higher-order deformation theory and nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory. The equations of motion for nanosensor sandwich graphene were derived using Hamilton's principle, considering the thermal, electroelastic, and magnetostrictive characteristics of the piezomagnetic surface plates. These equations were then solved using the Navier method. The core element of the sandwich nanosensor plate can be represented using three distinct foam variants: a uniform foam model, as well as two symmetric foam models. The investigation focused on analyzing the dimensionless fundamental natural frequencies of the sandwich nanosensor plate. This analysis considered the influence of three distinct foam types, the volumetric graphene ratio, temperature variation, nonlocal parameters, porosity ratio, electric and magnetic potential, as well as spring and shear viscoelastic support. Furthermore, an analysis was conducted on the impact of the metal and ceramic composition of the central section of the sandwich nanosensor plate on its dimensionless fundamental natural frequencies. In this context, the use of ceramic as the central material results in a mean enhancement of 33% in the fundamental natural frequencies. In contrast, the incorporation of graphene into the core material results in an average enhancement of 27%. The thermomechanical vibration behavior of the nanosensor plate reveals that the presence of graphene-supported foam and a viscoelastic support structure in the core layer leads to an increase in thermal resistance. This increase is dependent on factors such as the ratio of graphene, porosity ratio of the foam, and parameters of the viscoelastic support. Metal foam or ceramic foam has been found to enhance thermal resistance when compared to solid metal or ceramic core materials. The analysis results showed that it is important to take into account the temperature-dependent thermal properties of barium and cobalt, which are piezo-electromagnetic materials, and the core layer materials ceramics and metal, as well as the graphene used to strengthen the core. The research is anticipated to generate valuable findings regarding the advancement and utilization of nanosensors, transducers, and nano-electromechanical systems engineered for operation in high-temperature environments.

Atomic layer self-transducing MoS2 vibrating channel transistors with 0.5 pm/Hz1/2 displacement sensitivity at room temperature

We report on the experimental demonstration of high-performance suspended channel transistors with single- and bilayer (1L and 2L) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and on operating them as vibrating channel transistors (VCTs) and exploiting their built-in dynamic electromechanical coupling to read out picoampere (pA) transconduction current directly at the vibrating tones, without frequency conversion or down-mixing, for picometer (pm)-scale motion detection at room temperature. The 1L- and 2L-MoS2 VCTs exhibit excellent n-type transistor behavior with high mobility [150 cm2/(V·s)] and small subthreshold swing (98 mV/dec). Their resonance motions are probed by directly measuring the small-signal drain-source currents (iD). Electromechanical characteristics of the devices are extracted from the measured iD, yielding resonances at f0 = 31.83 MHz with quality factor Q = 117 and f0 = 21.43 MHz with Q = 110 for 1L- and 2L-MoS2 VCTs, respectively. The 2L-MoS2 VCT demonstrates excellent current and displacement sensitivity (Si1/2 = 2 pA/Hz1/2 and Sx1/2 = 0.5 pm/Hz1/2). We demonstrate f0 tuning by controlling gate voltage VG and achieve frequency tunability Δf0/f0 ≈ 8% and resonance frequency change Δf0/ΔVG ≈ 0.53 kHz/mV. This study helps pave the way to realizing ultrasensitive self-transducing 2D nanoelectromechanical systems at room temperature, in all-electronic configurations, for on-chip applications.

Strain-enhanced dynamic ranges in two-dimensional MoS2 and MoTe2 nanomechanical resonators

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising for atomic-scale, ultralow-power, and highly tunable resonant nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) in sensing, communications, and computing. Toward these applications, a broad and controllable linear dynamic range (DR) is desirable for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reliability. Here, we develop a comprehensive strain-enhanced DR model for 2D NEMS resonators, which is experimentally verified through the tuning of DRs in 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) NEMS resonators using gate-induced strain. We find that the resonance frequency, quality factor, and nonlinear coefficient are all tuned by the gate voltage, which enhance the DR together. Through the guidance of the DR tuning model, we demonstrate DR enhancement by up to 26.9 dB (from 69.5 to 96.4 dB) in a 2D MoS2 NEMS resonator by properly tuning the gate voltage, leading to a theoretical mass resolution of 26 yg (1 yg = 10−24 g). To accurately extract the DR, we further differentiate the quality factors for thermomechanical resonances and for resonances at the largest linear amplitude. This gate-enhanced DR model is also verified using a MoTe2 resonator, with DR enhancement of 7 dB (91.2 to 98.2 dB). The results provide a promising pathway for accurately predicting and optimizing the DRs in NEMS resonators, toward enhanced sensitivity and SNR in mass sensing, radio frequency signal processing, memory, and computing applications.

Nanomaterials Based Micro/Nanoelectromechanical System (MEMS and NEMS) Devices.

The micro- and nanoelectromechanical system (MEMS and NEMS) devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials reveal novel functionalities and higher sensitivity compared to their silicon-base counterparts. Unique properties of 2D materials boost the demand for 2D material-based nanoelectromechanical devices and sensing. During the last decades, using suspended 2D membranes integrated with MEMS and NEMS emerged high-performance sensitivities in mass and gas sensors, accelerometers, pressure sensors, and microphones. Actively sensing minute changes in the surrounding environment is provided by means of MEMS/NEMS sensors, such as sensing in passive modes of small changes in momentum, temperature, and strain. In this review, we discuss the materials preparation methods, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of 2D materials used in NEMS and MEMS devices, fabrication routes besides device operation principles.

Surface Adsorption and Air Damping Behavior of β‐Ga2O3 Nanomechanical Resonators

AbstractBeta gallium oxide (β‐Ga2O3) has emerged as a highly promising semiconductor material with an ultrawide bandgap ranging from 4.5 to 4.9 eV for future applications in power electronics, optoelectronics, as well as gas and ultraviolet (UV) radiation sensors. Here, surface adsorption and air damping behavior of doubly clamped β‐Ga2O3 nanomechanical resonators are probed and systemically studied by measuring the resonance characteristics under different gas and pressure conditions. High responsivities of resonance to pressure are obtained by heating the devices up to 300 °C to induce an accelerated adsorption–desorption process. The initial surface conditions of the β‐Ga2O3 thin film play important roles in affecting the resonant behavior. UV ozone treatment proves effective in altering the initial surface conditions of β‐Ga2O3 nanosheets by eliminating physisorbed contaminants and filling oxygen vacancy defects residing on the surface, resulting in a consequential and discernible modification of the resonance behavior of β‐Ga2O3 nanomechanical resonators. The surface adsorption and desorption processes in β‐Ga2O3 demonstrate clear reversibility by exposing the UV treated β‐Ga2O3 to air. This study attains first‐hand information on how the surface conditions of β‐Ga2O3 affect its mechanical properties, and helps guide future development of transducers via β‐Ga2O3 nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) for pressure sensing applications, especially in harsh environments.

Mechanical Manipulation of Quantum Interference in Single-Molecule Junctions.

Mechanosensitive molecular junctions, where conductance is sensitive to an applied stress such as force or displacement, are a class of nanoelectromechanical systems unique for their ability to exploit quantum mechanical phenomena. Most studies so far relied on reconfiguration of the molecule-electrode interface to impart mechanosensitivity, but this approach is limited and, generally, poorly reproducible. Alternatively, devices that exploit conformational flexibility of molecular wires have been recently proposed. The mechanosensitive properties of molecular wires containing the 1,1'-dinaphthyl moiety are presented here. Rotation along the chemical bond between the two naphthyl units is possible, giving rise to two conformers (transoid and cisoid) that have distinctive transport properties. When assembled as single-molecule junctions, it is possible to mechanically trigger the transoid to cisoid transition, resulting in an exquisitely sensitive mechanical switch with high switching ratio (> 102 ). Theoretical modeling shows that charge reconfiguration upon transoid to cisoid transition is responsible for the observed behavior, with generation and subsequent lifting of quantum interference features. These findings expand the experimental toolbox of molecular electronics with a novel chemical structure with outstanding electromechanical properties, further demonstrating the importance of subtle changes in charge delocalization on the transport properties of single-molecule devices.

Review of: "Nanolithography is used, for example, when nanofabricating advanced semiconductor integrated circuits (nanocircuits), for nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS)"

Review of: "Nanolithography is used, for example, when nanofabricating advanced semiconductor integrated circuits (nanocircuits), for nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS)"