Thermally Robust Polymer-Based Analogue Switch for Flexible mmWave Application

Abstract

The realization of thermally robust, polymer-based radio-frequency (RF) switches for flexible millimeter-wave (mmWave) electronics is a long-standing challenge due to inherent material instability. Here, a novel high-performance, thermally stable polymer-based non-volatile analogue switch is reported, utilizing an Au/poly(1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-trivinyl cyclotrisiloxane) (pV3D3)/Au memristive structure. A gold filamentary conduction model is elucidated that governs the device’s resistive switching, enabling analogue switching operations. Fabricated via a wafer-scale compatible initiated chemical vapor deposition technique, the device overcomes the limitations of prior organic electronics, exhibiting notable high-temperature stability with a projected state retention of over 10 years at 128.7 °C and robust endurance exceeding 1600 cycles. Furthermore, the switch demonstrates excellent RF performance suitable for mmWave applications, featuring a cutoff frequency of 5.38 THz, low insertion loss (<0.4 dB), high isolation (>18 dB) up to 20 GHz, and stable operation up to 67 GHz. Successful implementation on a flexible substrate confirms its mechanical resilience for wearable systems. This work establishes a viable pathway for robust, polymer-based analogue switches in advanced flexible RF technologies.