A micromechanical device is provided, which includes at least one flexible
member formed from an alloy, where the alloy is made up of one or more
noble metals and one or more alloying elements, wherein each of the
alloying elements has an equilibrium solid solubility in the noble metal,
and wherein the one or more alloying elements are present in an amount
that does not result in precipitates. A method for making a
micromechanical device includes depositing an alloy on a substrate to
form at least one flexible member, the alloy comprising one or more noble
metals and one or more alloying elements, wherein the one or more
alloying elements form a solid solution with the one or more noble
metals; and removing a portion of the substrate or a sacrificial layer
beneath the deposited alloy layer to obtain a flexible member.