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2006
Journal Article
Titel
Piezoresistive gauge factor of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films
Abstract
In this paper we report on the transport properties of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) which is an attractive material for strain gauges and can also be used in flow meters, accelerometers and vibrational sensors. The a-C:H films were deposited at -350 V bias voltage on silicon (Si) substrates using plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD). Current-voltage characteristics of a-C:H/n-Si heterojunctions show ohmic behavior within operating voltages of ±1 V. In the higher voltage range the Frenkel-Poole mechanism is dominant. Conduction is thermally activated at temperatures ranging from 23 °C to 150 °C. The activation energy amounts to 0.48 eV. A-C:H resistors are successfully integrated as strain gauges in Si bulk micromachined force sensors. Piezoresistive gauge factors are measured for the a-C:H strain gauge resistors in the temperature range 23-60 °C. The measured piezoresistive gauge factors are in between 40 and 90 for a-C:H with resistivities in the range 100-700 M? cm.