Mechanical reliability of silicon microstructures
Toshiyuki Tsuchiya
Abstract
Abstract In this article, an overview of the mechanical reliability of silicon microstructures for micro-electro-mechanical systems is given to clarify what we now know and what we still have to know about silicon as a high-performance mechanical material on the microscale. Focusing on the strength and fatigue properties of silicon, attempts to understand the reliability of silicon and to predict the device reliability of silicon-based microstructures are introduced. The effective parameters on the strength and the mechanism of fatigue failure are discussed with examples of measurement data to show the design guidelines for highly reliable silicon microstructures and devices.
Topics & Concepts
Microscale chemistrySiliconReliability (semiconductor)MicrostructureMaterials scienceMechanical failureReliability engineeringMechanical strengthMechanical engineeringComposite materialEngineeringOptoelectronicsPhysicsMedicineSurgeryPower (physics)Quantum mechanicsMathematicsMathematics educationAdvanced MEMS and NEMS TechnologiesAdvanced Surface Polishing TechniquesForce Microscopy Techniques and Applications