GOALI: Collaborative Research: 3D Printed Graded-Index Magnetodielectric Devices

诸如微波和射频透镜之类的磁介电器件对于通信系统是不可或缺的，例如雷达、移动的、网络安全和物联网应用所需要的。类似于聚焦光线的玻璃透镜，这些设备允许聚焦或以其他方式操纵无线电和微波。特别是，具有空间变化的磁和介电性质的设备提供了令人兴奋的和无数的可能性，电磁波整形，但仍然是实现由于缺乏实际的制造技术。喷墨印刷提供了一种有希望的制造这种装置的方法：不同组成的油墨（例如，包含磁性和介电纳米颗粒）可以以变化的比例分配在装置的体积内，以实现磁介电性质的期望空间梯度。这项工业大学合作的目标是展示通过3D喷墨打印制造的设备，其磁和介电特性具有量身定制的空间变化，以实现给定应用所需的波形整形。该演示将为天线透镜等先进设备铺平道路，这些设备仅将无线电或微波信号发射到特定的WiFi设备或特定房间的周边，以减轻信号干扰或拦截的风险。该项目还将为参与的学生创造一个独特的教育和专业发展机会，他们将通过实习获得先进制造业的专业知识和行业经验，这是一个对美国具有重要经济意义的领域。这个合作GOALI项目旨在展示微波和射频磁介电器件的制造，具有专门设计的空间变化的介电常数和磁导率。该项目将结合联合收割机转换光学技术的电磁介质的设计与3D喷墨打印数字定向设备制造。分级折射率微波透镜天线，单独定制的辐射模式，将打印在概念证明。这些器件将用含有高磁导率磁性和高介电常数介电纳米颗粒的可聚合油墨以逐层顺序印刷。一个关键的挑战，由于粒子负载的限制，当喷射油墨，将获得必要的范围内的渗透率和介电常数的印刷复合介质。用商用纳米粒子配制的墨水将用于对复合材料中可能的电磁特性进行快速调查。调查结果将指导后续的定制纳米粒子墨水设计。纳米粒子在油墨中的尺寸、分散和负载将针对油墨喷射和印刷复合材料中实现的电磁特性范围进行优化。

Magneto-dielectric devices, such as microwave and radio frequency lenses, are indispensable to communication systems, needed for example, for radar, mobile, cyber security and internet-of-things applications. Similar to glass lenses, which focus light, these devices allow for focusing or otherwise manipulating radio and microwaves. In particular, devices with spatially varying magnetic and dielectric properties offer exciting and innumerate possibilities for electromagnetic wave shaping but remain to be realized due to lack of practical fabrication techniques. Inkjet printing provides a promising approach to manufacturing such devices: inks of different composition (e.g., containing magnetic and dielectric nanoparticles) can be dispensed in varying ratio within the volume of the device to implement the desired spatial gradient in magneto dielectric properties. The goal of this industry university collaboration is to demonstrate devices, fabricated by 3D inkjet printing, with tailor-made spatial variation in magnetic and dielectric properties to achieve wave shaping as needed by a given application. The demonstration will pave the way for advanced devices such as antenna lenses that beam radio or microwave signals only to a specific WiFi enabled machine or within the perimeter of a specific room to mitigate the risk of signal interference or interception. The project will also create a unique educational and professional development opportunity for participating students, who will acquire expertise and industry experience, via internships, in advanced manufacturing, an area of significant economic importance to the U.S. Further, in partnership with a local library, talks aimed at public education in 3D printing technologies will be presented. This collaborative GOALI project seeks to demonstrate the fabrication of microwave and radio frequency magneto-dielectric devices, with specifically designed, spatially varying electric permittivity and magnetic permeability. The project will combine transformation optics techniques for design of electromagnetic media with 3D inkjet printing for digitally directed device fabrication. Graded index microwave lens antennas, with individually customized radiation patterns, will be printed in proof of concept. The devices will be printed in a layer-by-layer sequence with polymerizable inks containing high permeability magnetic and high permittivity dielectric nanoparticles. A key challenge, due to particle loading constraints when jetting inks, will be attaining the requisite range of permeability and permittivity in the printed composite medium. Inks formulated with commercial nanoparticles will be used to conduct a rapid survey of electromagnetic properties possible in the composites. The results of the survey will guide subsequent ink design with custom nanoparticles. The size, dispersion and loading of the nanoparticles in the inks will be optimized for ink-jettability and range of electromagnetic properties achieved in the printed composites.