Reliability characterization of MEMS switch using MIM test structures

Silicon nitride thin film dielectrics are used in capacitive radio frequency micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switches since they provide a low insertion loss, good isolation, and low return loss. The lifetime of these switches is believed to be adversely affected by charge trapping in the sil...

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Main Authors: Vaibhav Dubey, Deepak Khushalani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2014-12-01
Series:Journal of Electrical Systems and Information Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2314717214000385
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author Vaibhav Dubey
Deepak Khushalani
author_facet Vaibhav Dubey
Deepak Khushalani
author_sort Vaibhav Dubey
collection DOAJ
description Silicon nitride thin film dielectrics are used in capacitive radio frequency micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switches since they provide a low insertion loss, good isolation, and low return loss. The lifetime of these switches is believed to be adversely affected by charge trapping in the silicon nitride. The goal of this research was to characterize Si3N4-based MIM (Metal–Insulator–Metal) capacitors to describe the mechanisms responsible for the conduction and trapping behaviour in MEMS switches. The silicon nitride films were deposited by ICP chemical vapour deposition at room temperatures. The upper Si3N4 layer was removed by the reactive ion etching process (RIE) in order to provide contact paths to the bottom electrode. In the near-stoichiometric films, different electrical characterizations were performed to study dependence of the leakage current on different electrical parameters. It was concluded that the Poole–Frenkel mechanism dominated the conduction in the silicon nitride films at high fields.
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spelling doaj.art-f30a422f57d84e2794724727dfc181432022-12-22T01:48:20ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Electrical Systems and Information Technology2314-71722014-12-011318719710.1016/j.jesit.2014.12.002Reliability characterization of MEMS switch using MIM test structuresVaibhav DubeyDeepak KhushalaniSilicon nitride thin film dielectrics are used in capacitive radio frequency micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switches since they provide a low insertion loss, good isolation, and low return loss. The lifetime of these switches is believed to be adversely affected by charge trapping in the silicon nitride. The goal of this research was to characterize Si3N4-based MIM (Metal–Insulator–Metal) capacitors to describe the mechanisms responsible for the conduction and trapping behaviour in MEMS switches. The silicon nitride films were deposited by ICP chemical vapour deposition at room temperatures. The upper Si3N4 layer was removed by the reactive ion etching process (RIE) in order to provide contact paths to the bottom electrode. In the near-stoichiometric films, different electrical characterizations were performed to study dependence of the leakage current on different electrical parameters. It was concluded that the Poole–Frenkel mechanism dominated the conduction in the silicon nitride films at high fields.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2314717214000385MIM capacitorsICPCVDSilicon nitrideCharge trappingMEMSReliability
spellingShingle Vaibhav Dubey
Deepak Khushalani
Reliability characterization of MEMS switch using MIM test structures
Journal of Electrical Systems and Information Technology
MIM capacitors
ICPCVD
Silicon nitride
Charge trapping
MEMS
Reliability
title Reliability characterization of MEMS switch using MIM test structures
title_full Reliability characterization of MEMS switch using MIM test structures
title_fullStr Reliability characterization of MEMS switch using MIM test structures
title_full_unstemmed Reliability characterization of MEMS switch using MIM test structures
title_short Reliability characterization of MEMS switch using MIM test structures
title_sort reliability characterization of mems switch using mim test structures
topic MIM capacitors
ICPCVD
Silicon nitride
Charge trapping
MEMS
Reliability
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2314717214000385
work_keys_str_mv AT vaibhavdubey reliabilitycharacterizationofmemsswitchusingmimteststructures
AT deepakkhushalani reliabilitycharacterizationofmemsswitchusingmimteststructures