Nanocrystalline diamond MEMS and NEMS resonators

Carbon in the form of diamond, DLC (diamond-like carbon), carbon nanotubes and conjugated polymers are attracting increasing interest as an electronic material. This is because carbon possesses some interesting and unique properties. In its diamond form it has good thermal conductivity, high elastic modulus and good wear resistance. It is also possible through doping to turn diamond into a semiconductor leading to the possibility of devices that can operate at temperatures of several hundred degrees. Carbon can also form nanotubes, long tube like structures a few nanometers in diameter that can be conducting or semiconducting. Single walled carbon nanotubes are incredibly strong and posses the thermal conductivity of diamond. Carbon nanotubes are being investigated as interconnects in ICs because they are immune from electromigration. The small diameter of nanotubes is being exploited as thin film emission cathodes: a brush of parallel carbon nanotubes orientated normal to a phosphor display. Carbon nanotube technology is being used to create a supercapacitor - a kiloFarad capacitor the size of a drinks can! Carbon also forms long molecules, these polymers are being investigated as fast-switching TFT (thin film transistors) and organic light emitting diodes. Flexible polymer displays are already in production. It is hoped this research will lead to the lowest cost-per-area display technology.