GOALI: Functional Magnetic Polymer Nanocomposite Films for Tunable RD Device Applications

这个赠款机会学术联络与工业（GOALI）项目合作伙伴南佛罗里达大学与罗杰斯公司开发纳米制造方法的混合聚合物/微波层压板。主要目标包括解决嵌入铁电和铁磁纳米粒子的聚合物薄膜中的关键材料科学和工程问题，开发精确的微波表征和参数提取方法，并展示小型化的高性能RF器件，如多功能天线和谐振器。高介电常数和磁导率高于1 GHz的聚合物纳米复合材料的合成将继续进行。聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯，聚偏氟乙烯和聚吡咯将被研究作为主体聚合物与钡铁氧体和钛酸钡材料作为纳米复合夹杂物。纳米颗粒的表面活性剂涂层将用于在聚合物介质内获得均匀分散。将探索基于溶液的合成路线，这将允许扩大规模，以实现使用喷涂和丝网印刷技术的大面积涂层。纳米复合薄膜的结构，磁性和介电性能的特点。微波表征，建模和设计流程将被证明为多功能天线和谐振器的基础上的聚合物纳米复合薄膜具有可调的电磁性能。射频聚合物技术的成功开发将为射频/微波领域提供新的层压材料，这些材料具有独特的能力，可用于高频电路和天线的小型化，以及频率、带宽和阻抗的实时可调性。射频通信设备中使用的材料通常是硬的，因为它们是半导体、金属或陶瓷等固体。该项目解决了此类设备的范式转变，其目标是探索轻质，成本效益高，易于加工和大量制造的软材料，如聚合物。创新的研究战略结合了纳米技术和聚合物加工，以提出先进的下一代微波材料和设备。功能性、高频纳米复合聚合物和工业中常用的大规模制造方法的成功示范将有利于从国防/安全到商业电子的应用。该项目将提供材料科学和微波设计工程方面的实践培训，这两个方面都受到雇主的高度追捧。研究人员在指导学生进行跨学科研究方面有着广泛的记录。该项目的一个主要成果是为学生提供尖端科学和技术方面的培训，从而有可能为准备迎接下一代电信设备挑战的高技能劳动力做出贡献。

This Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) project partners the University of South Florida with Rogers Corporation to develop nanomanufacturing methods for hybrid polymer/microwave laminates. Primary goals include addressing key materials science and engineering issues in polymer films with embedded ferroelectric and ferromagnetic nanoparticles, developing accurate microwave characterization and parameter extraction methods and demonstrating miniaturized high performance RF devices such as multi-function antennas and resonators. The synthesis of polymer nanocomposites with high permittivity and permeability above 1 GHz will be pursued. PMMA, PVDF and polypyrrole will be investigated as host polymers with barium ferrite and barium titanate materials as nanocomposite inclusions. Surfactant coating of nanoparticles will be used to obtain uniform dispersion within the polymer media. Solution-based synthetic routes will be explored that would allow for scaling up to achieve large area coatings using spray and screen printing technologies. The structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of the nanocomposite films will be characterized. Microwave characterization, modeling and design flow will be demonstrated for multi-function antennas and resonators based on the polymer nanocomposite films with tunable electromagnetic properties. Successful development of the RF polymer technology will provide to the RF/microwave community new laminates with unique capabilities for miniaturization of high frequency circuits and antennas, as well as the potential for real-time tunability of frequency, bandwidth and impedance.The materials used in RF telecommunication devices are generally hard in nature as they are solids that are semiconductors, metals or ceramics. This project addresses a paradigm shift in such devices with its goal to explore soft materials like polymers that are lightweight, cost effective and easy to process and manufacture in large quantity. The innovative research strategy combines nanotechnology and polymer processing to come up with advanced, next-generation microwave materials and devices. The successful demonstration of functional, high frequency nanocomposite polymers and large-scale manufacturing methods commonly practiced in industry would benefit applications from defense/security to commercial electronics. The project will provide hands-on training in materials science and microwave design engineering both of which are highly sought after by employers to participating students. The investigators have an extensive record of mentoring students in interdisciplinary research. A major outcome of the project is the training provided to students in cutting edge science and technology, thus having the potential to contribute to a highly skilled workforce ready to take on the challenges of the next generation telecommunication devices.