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Every new generation of wireless technology places greater demands on the chips inside smartphones, base stations and connected vehicles. As 5G evolves toward 6G, radio-frequency (RF) chips must handle a growing number of communication channels, frequency bands and wireless services simultaneously. That requires a dramatic increase in the number of RF switches, which are electronic components that route signals through different parts of a circuit. The result is larger, more complex chips that consume more power.
Researchers led by the National University of Singapore have developed a new type of miniature RF switch that could help solve this problem. The technology uses memristive switches, which are electronic devices that remember their last state even after power is removed, allowing future wireless chips to become significantly smaller while reducing energy consumption.
Unlike conventional RF switches based on transistors or diodes, which typically require continuous power to maintain their operating state, the new devices retain their configuration after receiving a brief electrical pulse. This “memory” behavior comes from a thin layer of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) placed between two gold electrodes. According to TechXplore, when a voltage is applied, a nanoscale conductive pathway forms or disappears inside the material, changing its electrical resistance. Once created, that state remains without additional power, allowing the switch to continue directing radio signals while consuming virtually no holding energy.
One of the technology’s biggest advantages is its size. Each switching element measures just 2 × 2 micrometers, making it approximately 25,000 times smaller than many conventional RF switches used in similar applications. Despite their small footprint, the researchers successfully integrated the switches directly onto commercially manufactured gallium nitride (GaN) microwave chips without redesigning the underlying transistor circuitry.
To demonstrate practical use, the team incorporated the switches into three different RF circuits. One adjusted signal strength, another selected between different signal paths, and a third changed a filter’s operating frequency by 6 gigahertz. The switches also operated at frequencies of up to 100 GHz, covering current 5G bands and the higher frequencies expected to play an important role in future 6G networks.
Although developed for commercial communications, the technology could also benefit defense and homeland security systems. Military radios, radar systems, satellite communications and electronic warfare platforms increasingly require compact, reconfigurable RF hardware capable of operating across multiple frequency bands. Smaller switches that retain their configuration without continuous power could reduce the size, weight and power requirements of these systems while enabling more flexible communications and sensing capabilities in the field.
The researchers note that additional work is needed before commercialization, particularly to improve long-term durability and simplify manufacturing. Nevertheless, the successful integration of memristive switches into fully functional RF circuits demonstrates a promising approach to building smaller, more efficient wireless hardware for both civilian and defense applications as communication technologies continue to evolve.
The research was published here.
