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Full-Text Articles in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Separation Modes In Microcontacts Identified By The Rate Dependence Of The Pull-Off Force, L. Chen, Nicol Mcgruer, George Adams, Yan Du May 2011

Separation Modes In Microcontacts Identified By The Rate Dependence Of The Pull-Off Force, L. Chen, Nicol Mcgruer, George Adams, Yan Du

Nicol E. McGruer

We report the observation of two distinct modes of rate-dependent behavior during contact cycling tests. One is a higher pull-off force at low cycling rates and the other is a higher pull-off force at high cycling rates. Subsequent investigation of these contacts using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrates that these two rate-dependent modes can be related to brittle and ductile separation modes. The former behavior is indicative of brittle separation, whereas the latter accompanies ductile separation. Thus by monitoring the rate dependence of the pull-off force, the type of separation mode can be identified during cycling without interrupting the test …


Contact Resistance Study Of Noble Metals And Alloy Films Using A Scanning Probe Microscope Test Station, Lei Chen, H. Lee, Z. J. Guo, Nicol E. Mcgruer, K. W. Gilbert, S. Mall, Kevin D. Leedy, George G. Adams May 2011

Contact Resistance Study Of Noble Metals And Alloy Films Using A Scanning Probe Microscope Test Station, Lei Chen, H. Lee, Z. J. Guo, Nicol E. Mcgruer, K. W. Gilbert, S. Mall, Kevin D. Leedy, George G. Adams

Nicol E. McGruer

The proper selection of electrical contact materials is one of the critical steps in designing a metal contact microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch. Ideally, the contact should have both very low contact resistance and high wear resistance. Unfortunately this combination cannot be easily achieved with the contact materials currently used in macroswitches because the available contact force in microswitches is generally insufficient (less than 1 mN) to break through nonconductive surface layers. As a step in the materials selection process, three noble metals, platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), and their alloys with gold (Au) were deposited as thin films on …


A Parameter Study Of Separation Modes Of Adhering Microcontacts, Yan Du, George G. Adams, Nicol E. Mcgruer, Izhak Etsion May 2011

A Parameter Study Of Separation Modes Of Adhering Microcontacts, Yan Du, George G. Adams, Nicol E. Mcgruer, Izhak Etsion

Nicol E. McGruer

A finite element model was developed to study adhesion of elastic-plastic microcontacts in a previous investigation. An interesting result was the identification of two distinct separation modes, i.e. brittle and ductile separation. In the current study, that model is used to conduct a series of simulations to determine the influence of four nondimensional parameters (including the maximum load parameter) on the contact and on the separation modes. The results show that the parameter S (the ratio of the theoretical stress to the hardness) and δƒ/δc (representing the loading level) are the most important. Smaller S can only lead to brittle …


Scalable Nanotemplate Assisted Directed Assembly Of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes For Nanoscale Devices, Prashanth Makaram, Sivasubramanian Somu, Xugang Xiong, Ahmed A. Busnaina, Yung-Joon Jung, Nicol E. Mcgruer May 2011

Scalable Nanotemplate Assisted Directed Assembly Of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes For Nanoscale Devices, Prashanth Makaram, Sivasubramanian Somu, Xugang Xiong, Ahmed A. Busnaina, Yung-Joon Jung, Nicol E. Mcgruer

Nicol E. McGruer

The authors demonstrate precise alignment and controlled assembly of single wall nanotube (SWNT) bundles at a fast rate over large areas by combining electrophoresis and dip coating processes. SWNTs in solution are assembled on prepatterned features that are 80 nm wide and separated by 200 nm. The results show that the direction of substrate withdrawal significantly affects the orientation and alignment of the assembled SWNT bundles. I-V characterization is carried out to demonstrate electrical continuity of these assembled SWNT bundles.