A system and method for a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) device including a substrate and a free-standing and suspended electroplated metal MEMS structure formed on the substrate. The free-standing and suspended electroplated metal MEMS structure includes a metal mechanical element mechanically coupled to the substrate and a seed layer mechanically coupled to and in electrical communication with the mechanical element, the seed layer comprising at least one of a refractory metal and a refractory metal alloy, wherein a thickness of the mechanical element is substantially greater than a thickness of the seed layer such that the mechanical and electrical properties of the free-standing and suspended electroplated metal MEMS structure are defined by the material properties of the mechanical element.

A MEMS capacitive transducer with increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The transducer structure includes a flexible membrane supported between a first volume and a second volume, and at least one variable vent structure in communication with at least one of the first and second volumes. The variable vent structure includes at least one moveable portion which is moveable in response to a pressure differential across the moveable portion so as to vary the size of a flow path through the vent structure. The variable vent may be formed through the membrane and the moveable portion may be a part of the membrane, defined by one or more channels, that is deflectable away from the surface of the membrane. The variable vent is preferably closed in the normal range of pressure differentials but opens at high pressure differentials to provide more rapid equalisation of the air volumes above and below the membrane.

A MEMS capacitive transducer with increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The transducer structure includes a flexible membrane supported between a first volume and a second volume, and at least one variable vent structure in communication with at least one of the first and second volumes. The variable vent structure includes at least one moveable portion which is moveable in response to a pressure differential across the moveable portion so as to vary the size of a flow path through the vent structure. The variable vent may be formed through the membrane and the moveable portion may be a part of the membrane, defined by one or more channels, that is deflectable away from the surface of the membrane. The variable vent is preferably closed in the normal range of pressure differentials but opens at high pressure differentials to provide more rapid equalization of the air volumes above and below the membrane.

An elastic device may comprise an amorphous metal comprising at least one refractory metal, at least two elements selected from periods, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10, and at least one metalloid. A membrane may comprise a layer of silicon dioxide and a layer of amorphous metal. A MEMS device may comprise a layer of amorphous metal comprising at least one refractory metal, at least two elements selected from periods, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10, and a metalloid. In one example, the amorphous material comprises Tantalum (Ta), Tungsten (W), and Silicon (Si). In another example, the metalloid is Silicon. In yet another example, the refractory metals comprise Niobium, Molybdenum, Tantalum, Tungsten, Rhenium, or combinations thereof.

A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) structure and a method for forming the same are disclosed. The MEMS structure includes a sacrificial layer, a lower dielectric film, an upper dielectric film, a plurality of through holes and a protective film. The sacrificial layer comprises an opening. The lower dielectric film is on the sacrificial layer. The upper dielectric film is on the lower dielectric film. The plurality of through holes passes through the lower dielectric film and the upper dielectric film. The protective film covers side walls of the upper dielectric film and the lower dielectric film and a film interface between the lower dielectric film and the upper dielectric film.

A microelectronic device includes a copper structure over an electronic component. The copper structure includes copper having an average grain size greater than 1 micron. The copper structure has a corrosion barrier, which includes primarily cuprous oxide, directly on the copper. The corrosion barrier is exposed at an exterior surface. The microelectronic device is formed by plating copper over a substrate of the microelectronic device. The copper structure with the corrosion barrier is annealed at a temperature of 125 C. to 200 C. in a non-reducing ambient.

A MEMS capacitive transducer with increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The transducer structure includes a flexible membrane supported between a first volume and a second volume, and at least one variable vent structure in communication with at least one of the first and second volumes. The variable vent structure includes at least one moveable portion which is moveable in response to a pressure differential across the moveable portion so as to vary the size of a flow path through the vent structure. The variable vent may be formed through the membrane and the moveable portion may be a part of the membrane, defined by one or more channels, that is deflectable away from the surface of the membrane. The variable vent is preferably closed in the normal range of pressure differentials but opens at high pressure differentials to provide more rapid equalisation of the air volumes above and below the membrane.

A MEMS microphone with improved sensitivity and a method for producing such a MEMS microphone are disclosed. In an embodiment the MEMS microphone includes a carrier substrate, a capacitor having two electrodes, a substrate-side anchor and an electrode anchor, wherein the substrate-side anchor connects the substrate to the capacitor, wherein the electrode anchor connects the two electrodes of the capacitor, wherein one of the electrodes is a backplate and the other electrode is the anchored membrane, and wherein the substrate-side anchor has a bearing area on the substrate which exceeds a minimum area necessary for a mechanical stability of the MEMS microphone by not more than the minimum area.

A low friction wear surface with a coefficient of friction in the superlubric regime including graphene and nanoparticles on the wear surface is provided, and methods of producing the low friction wear surface are also provided. A long lifetime wear resistant surface including graphene exposed to hydrogen is provided, including methods of increasing the lifetime of graphene containing wear surfaces by providing hydrogen to the wear surface.

A MEMS capacitive transducer with increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The transducer structure includes a flexible membrane supported between a first volume and a second volume, and at least one variable vent structure in communication with at least one of the first and second volumes. The variable vent structure includes at least one moveable portion which is moveable in response to a pressure differential across the moveable portion so as to vary the size of a flow path through the vent structure. The variable vent may be formed through the membrane and the moveable portion may be a part of the membrane, defined by one or more channels, that is deflectable away from the surface of the membrane. The variable vent is preferably closed in the normal range of pressure differentials but opens at high pressure differentials to provide more rapid equalization of the air volumes above and below the membrane.