Self-superlubricated MEMS RF switches find applications in a wide array of fields, including wireless communication, high-end chip testing, RF front-ends in mobile phones, satellite communication, and beyond.

Developed on the foundation of self-superlubrication technology, self-superlubricated MEMS RF switches represent a novel category of MEMS RF switches. They boast core advantages such as low power consumption, minimal insertion loss, ultra-high linearity, and excellent isolation. Self-superlubrication describes a physical state where two solid surfaces in contact and sliding against each other without lubricants experience zero wear, zero static friction, and a friction coefficient that approaches zero.

MEMS RF switches are fundamental electronic components that govern the on-off state of circuits. Traditional MEMS RF switches, however, grapple with issues of unstable contact resistance, limited switch lifespan, and inadequate power-handling capacity due to friction and wear caused by repeated contact and separation of the contacts. These constraints hinder their widespread adoption in scenarios demanding high reliability and power.

According to the '2026-2031 China Self-Superlubricated MEMS RF Switch Industry Market In-Depth Research and Development Prospect Forecast Report' published by the New Industry Research Center, self-superlubricated MEMS RF switches exhibit significant enhancements in key performance indicators like signal loss and linearity compared to their traditional counterparts. Furthermore, by utilizing monocrystalline graphite instead of precious metal materials, they offer substantial cost savings. These switches are suitable for deployment in wireless communication, high-end chip testing, mobile phone RF front-ends, satellite communication, and various other domains.

In recent years, wireless communication technology has been advancing towards 5.5G/6G, imposing stringent demands on the signal stability, linearity, and insertion loss of RF front-end components. The physical limitations of traditional RF switches have become increasingly evident. As the sole technology currently capable of meeting the high-performance RF switch requirements of 5.5G/6G base stations, self-superlubricated MEMS RF switches present a vast market opportunity.

China has made significant strides in the foundational research of self-superlubrication, paving the way for the industrialization of self-superlubricated MEMS RF switches. Professor Zheng Quanshui's team stands at the forefront of self-superlubrication technology, conducting pioneering research primarily through the Superlubricity Technology Research Institute at the Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen (the world's inaugural structural superlubricity research institution) and the Double Helix Center at Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School.

Job postings on the official WeChat account of the Tsinghua SIGS Double Helix Center reveal that research on MEMS RF switches encompasses self-superlubricated RF switches and the fabrication of highly reliable micro-metal beams. The self-superlubricated RF switch research direction involves investigating the RF electrical characteristics and signal transmission mechanisms of self-superlubricated interfaces, developing theoretical models for 0-40GHz self-superlubricated RF switches, and completing multi-physics field simulation designs.

Industry analysts from New Industry Research note that, in terms of industrialization, Shenzhen Qingli Technology Co., Ltd. (Qingli Technology) has been designated by the Superlubricity Technology Research Institute at the Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen to spearhead the industrialization of self-superlubrication technology. Self-superlubricated MEMS RF switches constitute one of its three core products. In September 2025, Qingli Technology secured a hundred-million-yuan Pre-A round of financing, propelling the industrialization process of core products such as self-superlubricated MEMS RF switches.

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