Abstract
This paper presents a detailed investigation of titanium nitride (TiN)-based microheaters for space applications. TiN-based microheaters with different thicknesses ranging from 25 to 400 nm are fabricated. These layers are structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and electrically characterized for sheet resistance and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). Thereafter, for targeted temperatures of 250–300 °C, V-I characteristics are studied for all the variants and the achieved temperatures are verified through thermal imaging. Further, to evaluate the thermal stability of fabricated microheater devices, a long-term stability experiment was carried to establish their performance for space applications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bhattacharyya P (2014) Technological journey towards reliable microheater development for MEMS gas sensors: a review. IEEE Trans Device Mater Reliab 14(2):589–599. https://doi.org/10.1109/TDMR.2014.2311801
Cheng YL, Wei BJ, Shih FH, Wang YL (2013) Stability and reliability of Ti/TiN as a thin film resistor ECS. J Solid State Sci Technol 2(1):Q12–Q15. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.022301jss
Creemer JF, Briand D, Zandbergen HW, Van der Vlist W, De Boer CR, de Rooij NF, Sarro PM (2008) Microhotplates with TiN heaters. Sens Actuators A 148(2):416–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2008.08.016
Dai CL (2007) A capacitive humidity sensor integrated with micro heater and ring oscillator circuit fabricated by CMOS–MEMS technique. Sens Actuators B Chem 122(2):375–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2006.05.042
Gamero-Castaño M, Hruby V, Martínez-Sánchez M (2001) A torsional balance that resolves sub-micro-Newton forces. In: 27th international electric propulsion conference, Pasadena, CA, pp 15–19
Guman WJ, Peko PE (1968) Solid-propellant pulsed plasma microthruster studies. J Spacecr Rocket 5(6):732–733. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.29340
Helvajian H, Fuqua PD, Hansen WW, Janson S (2001) Laser microprocessing for nanosatellite microthruster applications. RIKEN Rev 32:57–63
Kearney BT, Jugdersuren B, Culbertson JC, Desario Xiao Liu PA (2018) Substrate and annealing temperature dependent electrical resistivity of sputtered titanium nitride thin films. Thin Solid Films 661:78–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2018.07.001
Ketsdever AD, Lee RH, Lilly TC (2005) Performance testing of a microfabricated propulsion system for nanosatellite applications. J Micromech Microeng 15(12):2254–2263. https://doi.org/10.1088/0960-1317/15/12/007
Kim NY, Son YB, Oh JH, Hwangbo CK, Park MC (2000) TiNx layer as an antireflection and antistatic coating for display. Surf Coat Technol 128:156–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0257-8972(00)00574-0
Kohlhase A, Mändl M, Pamler W (1989) Performance and failure mechanisms of TiN diffusion barrier layers in submicron devices. J Appl Phys 65(6):2464–2469. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.342816
Liu B, Xinrui Li Xu, Yang JY, Wang Y, Li D, Gao G (2020) A new vaporizing liquid microthruster with planar induction heating. Sens Actuators A. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2020.112010
Malmros A, Südow M, Andersson K, Rorsman N (2010) TiN thin film resistors for monolithic microwave integrated circuits. J Vacuum Sci Technol B Nanotechnol Microelectron Mater Process Meas Phenom 28(5):912–915. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.3475532
Mo Y, Okawa Y, Tajima M, Nakai T, Yoshiike N, Natukawa K (2001) Micro-machined gas sensor array based on metal film micro-heater. Sens Actuators B Chem 79(2–3):175–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4005(01)00871-1
Prasad M, Dutta PS (2018) Development of micro-hotplate and its reliability for gas sensing applications. Appl Phys A 124:788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-2210-4
Tanaka S, Kondo K, Habu H, Itoh A, Watanabe M, Hori K, Esashi M (2008) Test of B/Ti multilayer reactive igniters for a micro solid rocket array thruster. Sens Actuators A 144(2):361–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2008.02.015
Tao J, Cheung NW, Hu C (1995) Electromigration characteristics of TiN barrier layer material. IEEE Electron Device Lett 16(6):230–232. https://doi.org/10.1109/55.790718
Wang JM, Liu WG, Mei T (2004) The effect of thermal treatment on the electrical properties of titanium nitride thin films by filtered arc plasma method. Ceram Int 30(7):1921–1924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2003.12.042
Wolansky D (2017) Wide range tuning of titanium nitride sheet resistance for thin film resistors. In: IEEE international interconnect technology conference (IITC), Hsinchu. https://doi.org/10.1109/IITC-AMC.2017.7968942
Zhang KL, Chou SK, Ang SS (2007) Fabrication, modeling and testing of a thin film Au/Ti microheater. Int J Therm Sci 46(6):580–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2006.08.002
Ziemer J, Gamero-Castaño M, Hruby V, Spence D, Demmons N, McCormick R, Roy T, Gasdaska C, Young J, Connolly B (2012) Colloid micro-Newton thruster development for the ST7-DRS and LISA missions. In: 41st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE joint propulsion conference and exhibit, pp 1–9. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2005-4265
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Singh, S., Kumar, D., Vashishath, M. et al. Investigation of CMOS compatible titanium nitride-based microheater for microthrusters. ISSS J Micro Smart Syst 11, 417–426 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41683-022-00097-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41683-022-00097-6