Volume 19, Number 1, 17-21, DOI: 10.1007/s11249-004-4261-2

Reduction of adhesion and friction of silicon oxide surface in the presence of n-propanol vapor in the gas phase

K. Strawhecker, D. B. Asay, J. McKinney and S. H. Kim

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Abstract

The equilibrium adsorption of gas phase alcohol molecules has been proposed as a new means of in-use anti-stiction and lubrication for MEMS devices. Adhesion and friction of silicon oxide surfaces as a function of n-propanol vapor pressure in the ambient gas were invesitigated using atomic force microscopy. As the vapor pressure increases, the adsorbed n-propanol layer thickness increases. The adhesion and friction significantly decrease with very little addition of n-propanol vapor.

Keywords  MEMS - lubrication - adhesion - friction - alcohol - adsorption

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