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

GOALI项目是南佛罗里达大学与罗杰斯公司的合作伙伴，旨在开发用于混合聚合物/微波层压板的纳米制造方法。主要目标包括解决嵌入铁电和铁磁纳米颗粒的聚合物薄膜中的关键材料科学和工程问题，开发准确的微波表征和参数提取方法，并展示多功能天线和谐振器等小型化高性能射频设备。合成高介电常数、磁导率在1 GHz以上的聚合物纳米复合材料是今后的发展方向。以聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯、聚偏氟乙烯和聚吡咯为主体聚合物，以钛酸钡和铁氧体为纳米复合夹杂物。表面活性剂包覆纳米颗粒将被用来在聚合物介质中获得均匀分散。将探索基于溶液的合成路线，允许扩大规模，使用喷雾和丝网印刷技术实现大面积涂料。对纳米复合薄膜的结构、磁性和介电性能进行了表征。对基于具有可调谐电磁特性的聚合物纳米复合薄膜的多功能天线和谐振器的微波特性、建模和设计流程进行了演示。射频聚合物技术的成功开发将为射频/微波界提供新的层压板，具有使高频电路和天线小型化的独特能力，以及实现频率、带宽和阻抗的实时可调的潜力。用于射频电信设备的材料通常性质坚硬，因为它们是半导体、金属或陶瓷的固体。该项目致力于此类设备的范式转变，其目标是探索聚合物等软材料，这些材料重量轻、成本效益高、易于大量加工和制造。这一创新的研究战略将纳米技术和聚合物加工相结合，以开发出先进的下一代微波材料和设备。功能、高频纳米复合聚合物的成功展示和大规模制造方法在工业上的普遍应用将有利于从国防/安全到商业电子的应用。该项目将为参与项目的学生提供材料科学和微波设计工程方面的实践培训，这两个领域都受到雇主的追捧。调查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，从而有潜力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.