Tailoring phase change materials to RF Switches for 5G and 6G Technology (T02#)

• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 167917811

Work Program: The goal of the present proposal is tailoring phase change materials for RF switches in 5G and 6G technology. In the first work package, new PCMs will be identified and tailored which possess superior characteristics as an RF switch (WP1), i.e. a lower on-state resistance Ron, a higher off-state resistance Roff as well as a low off-state capacitance Coff. Subsequently, those materials will be identified, which combine superior electronic properties yet possess switching times of less than 1 s and low power consumption (WP2). Finally, we will identify specific failure modes of RF switches based on PCMs and identify strategies to avoid such failures (WP3). 0WP 1: Tailoring electrical properties of PCMs to improve RF switches; WP 2: Tailoring the switching kinetics of PCMs to improve RF switches; WP 3: Studies of retention, cyclability and failure of RF switches employing PCMs

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres (Transfer Project)
• Subproject of: SFB 917: Resistively Switching Chalcogenides for Future Electronics - Structure, Kinetics and Device Scalability: 'Nanoswitches'
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Matthias Wuttig