A method for closing openings in a flexible diaphragm of a MEMS element. The method includes: providing at least one opening in the flexible diaphragm, situating sealing material in the area of the at least one opening, melting-on at least the applied sealing material in the area of the at least one opening, and subsequently cooling the melted-on material to close the at least one opening.

The present disclosure provides a method for the surface modification of microstructured components having a polar surface, in particular for high-pressure applications. According to the method, a microstructured component is contacted, in particular treated, with a modification reagent, wherein the surface properties of the component are modified by chemical and/or physical interaction of the component surface and of the modification reagent.

Function fabrication in a microfluidic device manufactured with a custom 3D printer. The functions may include, for example, transporting or routing fluid, fluid mixing through flow and/or diffusion, blocking fluid (valve), pumping fluid, providing chemical reaction regions, providing analyte capture regions, and providing analyte separation regions. The fluid may be a liquid or a gas.

A ceramic substrate is mainly constituted of ceramic, and has a first main surface and a second main surface located opposite to the first main surface. A recessed portion recessed toward a first main surface side is formed in the second main surface. A wire portion extending from an outer peripheral surface of the ceramic substrate to inside of the recessed portion is formed, and a bottom portion located on the first main surface side in the recessed portion has a portion thinner than another portion of the ceramic substrate other than the bottom portion.

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches are described. The MEMS switches can be actively opened and closed. The switch can include a beam coupled to an anchor on a substrate by one or more hinges. The beam, the hinges and the anchor may be made of the same material in some configurations. The switch can include electrodes, disposed on a surface of the substrate, for electrically controlling the orientation of the beam. The hinges may be thinner than the beam, resulting in the hinges being more flexible than the beam. In some configurations, the hinges are located within an opening in the beam. The hinges may extend in the same direction of the axis of rotation of the beam and/or in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the beam.

A process for forming graphene, includes: depositing at least a first and a second metal onto a surface of silicon carbide (SiC), and heating the SiC and the first and second metals under conditions that cause the first metal to react with silicon of the silicon carbide to form carbon and at least one stable silicide. The corresponding solubilities of the carbon in the stable silicide and in the second metal are sufficiently low that the carbon produced by the silicide reaction forms a graphene layer on the SiC.

A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device includes a supporting substrate, a cavity disposed in the supporting substrate, a stopper, and a MEMS structure. The stopper is disposed between the supporting substrate and the cavity, and an inner sidewall of the stopper is in contact with the cavity. The stopper includes a filling material surrounding a periphery of the cavity, and a liner wrapping around the filling material. The MEMS structure is disposed over the cavity and attached on the stopper and the supporting substrate.

A method for making ion-crystal semiconductor material based micro- and/or nanowires, MNWs, embedded into a semiconductor substrate, includes forming a structure into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the structure has each of a width and a depth less than 10 μm; pumping an ion-crystal semiconductor material as an ion solution into the structure, wherein the pumping is achieved exclusively due to capillary forces; flowing the ion solution through the structure to fill the structure; crystallizing the ion-crystal semiconductor material inside the structure to form the MNWs; and adding electrodes to ends of the MNWs.

A method comprises: patterning a substrate, including a conductive region, with photoresist exposed by lithography, where the substrate is mounted on a handle substrate; forming a comb structure with conductive fingers on the substrate by at least removing a portion of the conductive region of the substrate; removing the photoresist; forming, one atomic layer at a time, at least one atomic layer of at least one conductor over at least one sidewall of each conductive finger; attaching at least one insulator layer to the comb structure, and the substrate from which the comb structure is formed; and removing the handle substrate.

A MEMS transducing apparatus includes a substrate, a conductive pad, a stacked structure of a transducing device, a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer and a third polymer layer. An upper cavity is formed through the substrate. The conductive pad is formed on a first surface of the substrate to cover a first opening of the upper cavity. The stacked structure of the transducing device is formed on the conductive pad. The first polymer layer is formed on the first surface of the substrate. A lower cavity is formed through the first polymer layer. The stacked structure of the transducing device is exposed within the lower cavity. The third polymer layer is formed on a second surface of the substrate to cover a second opening of the upper cavity. The second polymer layer is formed on the first polymer layer to cover a third opening of the lower cavity.