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Fabrication of high-aspect-ratio polymer-based electrostatic comb drives using the hot embossing technique

Yongjun Zhao and Tianhong Cui

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We report on the formation of a lateral comb drive on poly-methyl-meth-acrylate (PMMA) using the hot embossing technique. A hot embossing mold insert is fabricated on a silicon wafer by means of lithography and inductive coupled plasma dry etching. The comb drive microstructure is hot embossed under a molding force of 35000 N at 130 °C. We demonstrate the comb drive, 80 units of interdigitated parallel capacitors with the finger gap and width both being 10 μm. The minimum feature size is 5 μm and the thickness of the structure is 60 μm, which makes the aspect ratio 12:1. The comb drive strokes 5 μm under an actuation potential of 180 V. We also present a brief description of the design and simulation with ANSYS.


PACS

81.05.Lg Polymers and plastics; rubber; synthetic and natural fibers; organometallic and organic materials

81.20.Wk Machining, milling

81.65.Cf Surface cleaning, etching, patterning

81.16.Nd Nanolithography

Subjects

Soft matter, liquids and polymers

Surfaces, interfaces and thin films

Nanoscale science and low-D systems

Condensed matter: structural, mechanical & thermal

Dates

Issue 3 (May 2003)

Received 10 January 2003, in final form 24 February 2003

Published 18 March 2003



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