This technology is a graphene-based nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) oscillator with gate-tunable conductance and large electrical mobility.
Oscillators produce continuous periodic signals from direct current (DC) power and are crucial in modern communication systems. While current micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) oscillators demonstrate frequency stability and high resonant frequency, these oscillators require large footprints on integrated circuits and often have limited frequency tunability. In contrast, NEMS oscillators are small and practical for on-chip integration, but can have low signal to background noise ratios.
This technology takes advantage of the electronic and mechanical properties of graphene to develop a robust NEMS oscillator with tunable frequencies. Graphene has gate-tunable conductivity, which allows for voltage-controlled conductance. Compared to conventional MEMS oscillators which can occupy an area of 100 x 100 microns, the active area of the NEMS oscillator described in this technology can be much smaller – as small as 1 x 1 micron – and has greater frequency tunability. Graphene can achieve high resonant frequencies that can be electrostatically tuned over a wide range (up to about 400%) with an application of moderate (<10 V) voltages across the suspended channel and the underlying gate.
A prototype of this technology was shown to exhibit frequency stability and achieved efficient audio signal transmission through a graphene radio station.
IR CU14117
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