Substitution and Sustainability in Functional Materials and Devices

功能材料和器件(FMD)是一个快速发展的学科，它支撑着现代生活的许多方面，如天线、储能设备、多组分传感器和智能材料。以每年约30亿GB的细分规模计算，英国约占欧盟总产量的25%。然而，欧盟和英国的FMD部门严重依赖受地缘政治、地质和环境限制的原材料。对材料稀缺和环境限制的反应取决于行业，但公司表示，资源效率、研发和创新替代是必要的。我们的愿景是利用材料工程、多尺度建模、先进制造、供应链/生命周期分析和产业伙伴关系，在英国口蹄疫部门内建立对替代和可持续性的整体反应。6调查人员已经确定了关键任务项目，这些项目将成为该计划的初始重点。在赠款期间，将与不断扩大的工业合作伙伴合作开发后续项目。i)从多层陶瓷电容器(MLCC)的制造中消除昂贵的稀土氧化物：目前，MLCC的寿命通过使用~2wt%的稀土氧化物(RE=Dy，Ho)来提高。根据美国政府的说法，Dy是最危险的元素之一。因此，从制造MLCC中消除Dy和Ho是当务之急。ii)用于节能制冷的磁热元件中的稀土替代：Dy也是用于节能制冷的磁热元件中的关键元素。将探索增强巨磁热效应的无稀土战略，以便将这种高效的制冷技术商业化。Iii)在电介质加载的卫星接收天线中替换稀土氧化物：超小型GPS微带贴片天线使用基于钛酸钡稀土(Bret，RE=Nd和Sm)的陶瓷，因为这是目前唯一可用的具有所需性能的高介电常数(80-90)材料。我们将探索在无稀土、低成本介质衬底上的新的多层天线设计，如BaTi4O9。iv)使用无PbO压电氧化物的致动器的制造：环境友好的无PbO压电体)作为PZT的潜在替代品，在过去十年中得到了发展。将研究器件的制造和表征，以及与直接集成到最终用户应用有关的关键问题的研究。v)在热电发电机中用坚固的氧化物陶瓷取代外来化合物目前，用于废热收集的最佳热电材料(Figure of Merit，ZT&GT；1)是基于碲化物、锑化物和锗的。这些化合物不仅有毒，供不应求，而且在建议的工作温度下也不稳定。基于同样性能、更丰富、毒性更低的氧化物材料的热电发电机将被开发出来。vi)通过制造可持续发展的发光二极管(LED)节能LED有能力取代完全传统的钨丝光源，但扩大这项技术会导致关键的热管理问题，而导电银膏的成本太高，无法满足设想的市场。因此，将探索新的散热策略，以便以W为基础的高功率照明可以被LED节能等效照明所取代。所有项目都将在设备设计、材料开发和了解物理特性方面使用多尺度建模。此外，供应链环境分析工具(SCEnAT)将用于所有项目。SCEnAT基于碳领域最先进的方法进行编码，已被塔塔、劳斯莱斯和谢菲尔德锻造国际等领先行业使用。

Functional Materials and Devices (FMD) is a rapidly evolving subject which underpins many aspects of modern life such as antennas, energy storage devices, multicomponent sensors and smart materials. At a segment size of ~£3Bn p.a., the UK represents ~25% of the total EU production. However, the FMD sector in the EU and UK relies heavily on raw materials which have geopolitical, geological and environmental constraints. The response to materials scarcity and environmental restrictions depends on the industry, but companies indicate that resource efficiency, R&D, and innovations for substitution are necessary. Our vision is to utilise materials engineering, multiscale modeling, advanced manufacturing, supply chain/life cycle analysis and industrial partnerships to establish an holistic response to substitution and sustainability within the UK FMD sector.6 mission-critical projects have been identified by the investigators which will be the initial focus of the programme. Follow on projects will be developed during the grant in collaboration with an expanding portfolio of industrial partners.i) Elimination of expensive RE-oxides from the fabrication of multilayer ceramics capacitors (MLCC): Currently, the lifetime of an MLCC is enhanced by the use of ~2wt% of RE-oxide (RE = Dy, Ho). Dy is the number one most endangered element according to the US government. Eradicating Dy and Ho from the fabrication MLCC is thus an urgent priorityii) RE substitution in magnetocalorics for energy efficient refrigeration:Dy is also a critical element in magnetocalorics for energy efficient refrigeration. RE-free strategies to enhance the giant magnetocaloric effect will be explored so that this highly efficiently refrigeration technology can be made commercial. iii) Replacement of RE based oxides in dielectrically loaded satellite receive antennas: Ultra small GPS microstrip patch antennas utilize ceramics based on barium RE titanates (BRET, RE = Nd and Sm) since these are the only currently available high permittivity (80-90) materials with the required properties. We will explore new multilayer antenna designs on RE free, low cost dielectric substrates such as BaTi4O9.iv) Manufacture of actuators using PbO-free piezoelectric oxides: Environmentally friendly, PbO-free piezoelectrics) have been developed over the last decade as potential replacements for Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT). Device fabrication and characterization will be studied along with an investigation of critical issues concerning direct integration into end-user applications.v) Replacing exotic compounds with robust oxide ceramics in thermoelectric generatorsCurrently, the best thermoelectric materials (Figure of Merit, ZT > 1) for waste heat harvesting are based on tellurides, antimonides and germanides. Not only are these compounds toxic and in short supply but they are also unstable at the proposed operating temperatures. Thermoelectric generators based on equally performant, more abundant and less toxic oxide materials will be developed vi) Manufacturing routes to sustainability in light emitting diodes (LEDs)Energy efficient LEDs have the capacity to replace completely conventional W based filament light sources but scaling up this technology results in critical thermal management problems which are alleviated by conductive Ag paste, too expensive to meet the envisaged market. New strategies to dissipate heat will therefore be explored so that W based high powered lighting can be replaced by LED energy efficient equivalents. All projects will be make use of multiscale modelling in device design, materials development and understanding physical properties. In addition, a Supply Chain Environmental Analysis Tool (SCEnAT) will be utilized on all projects. SCEnAT is coded based on the state-of-the-art methodology in carbon and has been used by leading industry such as TATA, Rolls-Royce and Sheffield Forgemasters International.