MEMS Pressure Sensors with Novel TSV Design for Extreme Temperature Environments

This study introduces a manufacturing process based on industrial MEMS technology, enabling the production of diverse sensor designs customized for a wide range of absolute pressure measurements. Using monocrystalline silicon as the structural material minimizes thermal stresses and eliminates tempe...

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Main Authors: Muhannad Ghanam, Peter Woias, Frank Goldschmidtböing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/3/636
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author Muhannad Ghanam
Peter Woias
Frank Goldschmidtböing
author_facet Muhannad Ghanam
Peter Woias
Frank Goldschmidtböing
author_sort Muhannad Ghanam
collection DOAJ
description This study introduces a manufacturing process based on industrial MEMS technology, enabling the production of diverse sensor designs customized for a wide range of absolute pressure measurements. Using monocrystalline silicon as the structural material minimizes thermal stresses and eliminates temperature-dependent semiconductor effects, as silicon functions solely as a mechanical material. Integrating a eutectic bonding process in the sensor fabrication allows for a reliable operation at temperatures up to 350 °C. The capacitive sensor electrodes are enclosed within a silicon-based Faraday cage, ensuring effective shielding against external electrostatic interference. An innovative Through-Silicon Via (TSV) design, sealed using gold–gold (Au-Au) diffusion and gold–silicon (Au-Si) eutectic bonding, further enhances the mechanical and thermal stability of the sensors, even under high-temperature conditions. The unfilled TSV structure mitigates mechanical stress from thermal expansion. The sensors exhibited excellent performance, achieving a linearity of 99.994%, a thermal drift of −0.0164% FS (full scale)/K at full load and 350 °C, and a high sensitivity of 34 fF/kPa. These results highlight the potential of these sensors for high-performance applications across various demanding environments.
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spelling doaj-art-7bf3a7f42e844d51ba4ca8782a484d032025-08-20T02:12:29ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-01-0125363610.3390/s25030636MEMS Pressure Sensors with Novel TSV Design for Extreme Temperature EnvironmentsMuhannad Ghanam0Peter Woias1Frank Goldschmidtböing2Laboratory for Design of Microsystems, IMTEK—University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyLaboratory for Design of Microsystems, IMTEK—University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyLaboratory for Design of Microsystems, IMTEK—University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyThis study introduces a manufacturing process based on industrial MEMS technology, enabling the production of diverse sensor designs customized for a wide range of absolute pressure measurements. Using monocrystalline silicon as the structural material minimizes thermal stresses and eliminates temperature-dependent semiconductor effects, as silicon functions solely as a mechanical material. Integrating a eutectic bonding process in the sensor fabrication allows for a reliable operation at temperatures up to 350 °C. The capacitive sensor electrodes are enclosed within a silicon-based Faraday cage, ensuring effective shielding against external electrostatic interference. An innovative Through-Silicon Via (TSV) design, sealed using gold–gold (Au-Au) diffusion and gold–silicon (Au-Si) eutectic bonding, further enhances the mechanical and thermal stability of the sensors, even under high-temperature conditions. The unfilled TSV structure mitigates mechanical stress from thermal expansion. The sensors exhibited excellent performance, achieving a linearity of 99.994%, a thermal drift of −0.0164% FS (full scale)/K at full load and 350 °C, and a high sensitivity of 34 fF/kPa. These results highlight the potential of these sensors for high-performance applications across various demanding environments.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/3/636absolute sensordiffusion bondingeutectic bondingThrough-Silicon Viasthermal drift
spellingShingle Muhannad Ghanam
Peter Woias
Frank Goldschmidtböing
MEMS Pressure Sensors with Novel TSV Design for Extreme Temperature Environments
Sensors
absolute sensor
diffusion bonding
eutectic bonding
Through-Silicon Vias
thermal drift
title MEMS Pressure Sensors with Novel TSV Design for Extreme Temperature Environments
title_full MEMS Pressure Sensors with Novel TSV Design for Extreme Temperature Environments
title_fullStr MEMS Pressure Sensors with Novel TSV Design for Extreme Temperature Environments
title_full_unstemmed MEMS Pressure Sensors with Novel TSV Design for Extreme Temperature Environments
title_short MEMS Pressure Sensors with Novel TSV Design for Extreme Temperature Environments
title_sort mems pressure sensors with novel tsv design for extreme temperature environments
topic absolute sensor
diffusion bonding
eutectic bonding
Through-Silicon Vias
thermal drift
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/3/636
work_keys_str_mv AT muhannadghanam memspressuresensorswithnoveltsvdesignforextremetemperatureenvironments
AT peterwoias memspressuresensorswithnoveltsvdesignforextremetemperatureenvironments
AT frankgoldschmidtboing memspressuresensorswithnoveltsvdesignforextremetemperatureenvironments