Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2pzkn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-13T06:56:54.053Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Improving the contact resistance at low force using gold coated carbon nanotube surfaces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2010

J. W. McBride ,
E. M. Yunus  and
S. M. Spearing
J. W. McBride*
Affiliation:
School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
E. M. Yunus
Affiliation:
School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
S. M. Spearing
Affiliation:
School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
*
jwm@soton.ac.uk
Get access

Abstract

Investigations to determine the electrical contact performance under repeated cycles at low force conditions for carbon-nanotube (CNT) coated surfaces were performed. The surfaces under investigation consisted of multi-walled CNT synthesized on a silicon substrate and coated with a gold film. These planar surfaces were mounted on the tip of a PZT actuator and contacted with a plated Au hemispherical probe. The dynamic applied force used was 1 mN. The contact resistance (Rc) of these surfaces was investigated with the applied force and with repeated loading cycles performed for stability testing. The surfaces were compared with a reference Au–Au contact under the same experimental conditions. This initial study shows the potential for the application of gold coated CNT surfaces as an interface in low force electrical contact applications.

Type
Research Article
Information
The European Physical Journal - Applied Physics , Volume 50 , Issue 1: Focus on Electrical Contacts , April 2010 , 12904
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Coutu, R.A., Kladitis, P.E., Leedy, K.D., Crane, R.L., J. Micromech. Microeng. 14, 1157 (2004) CrossRef
D. Gao, M.B.J. Wijesundara, C. Carraro, C.W. Low, R.T. Howe, R. Maboudian, High Modulus Polycrystalline 3C-SiC Technology for RF MEMS, 2th Int. Conf. Solid State Sensors, Actuators and Mircosystems, 3D3.4 (2003), pp. 1160–1163
Lian, G.D., Dickey, E.C., Ueno, M., Sunkara, M.K., Diamond Relat. Mater. 11, 1890 (2002) CrossRef
Tzeng, Y., Chen, Y., Liu, C., Diamond Relat. Mater. 12, 774 (2003) CrossRef
Yaglioglu, O., Hart, A.J., Martens, R., Slocum, A.H., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 095105-1 (2006) CrossRef
Yu, M.F., Lourie, O., Dyer, M.J., Moloni, K., Kelly, T.F., Ruoff, R.S., Science 287, 637 (2000) CrossRef
Wong, E.W., Sheehan, P.E., Lieber, C.M., Science 277, 1971 (1997) CrossRef
Qi, H.J., Teo, K.B.K., Lau, K.K.S., Boyce, M.C., Milne, W.I., Robertson, J., Gleason, K.K., J. Mech. Phys. Solids 51, 2213 (2003) CrossRef
Thostenson, E.T., Ren, Z., Chou, T.W., Comp. Sci. Technol. 61, 1899 (2001) CrossRef
Hjortstam, O., Isberg, P., Söderholm, S., Dai, H., J. Appl. Phys. A: Mater. Sci. Process. 78, 1175 (2004) CrossRef
E.M. Yunus, J.W. McBride, S.M. Spearing, The Relationship between Contact Resistance and Contact Force on Au coated Carbon Nanotubes surfaces, Electrical Contact, Proc. 53rd IEEE Holm Conf. Electrical Contacts (2007), Vol. 6.4, pp. 167–174
T.G. Beckwith, R.D. Marangoni, J.H. Lienhard V, Mechanical Measurements, 5th edn. (Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1993)
M.J. Usher, Sensors and Transducers (MacMillan, 1985)
Duval, F.F.C., Wilson, S.A., Ensell, G., Evanno, N.M.P., Cain, M.G., Whatmore, R.W., Sens. Actuat. A 133, 35 (2007) CrossRef
Dong, W., Lu, X., Cui, Y., Wang, J., Liu, M., Thin Solid Films 515, 8544 (2007) CrossRef
C.W. Young, Roark's: Formulas for Stress & Strain (McGraw-Hill International Edition, General Engineering Series, 1989)
Patton, S.T., Zabinski, J.S., Tribol. Lett. 18, 215 (2005) CrossRef
Gregori, G., Clarke, D.R., J. Appl. Phys. 100, 09494 (2006) CrossRef