Block Copolymer Nanoarchitectures for Radio Frequency Applications

Abstract : The goal of this research is to develop flexible polymeric nanocomposites having high permitivities and permeabilities for use in radio frequency (RF) applications. The nanocomposites are based on the self-assembly of block copolymers. A variety of mixed metal oxides of high dielectric constant and high magnetic susceptibility are templated within different block copolymer structures. Experiments with mixed oxides of Iron and Strontium have produced nanocomposites with low loss at high frequencies and a ratio of mu to epsilon of 4. The ease of processing a polymer would allow the production of thin film nanoscale self-assembled RF nanocomposites that could be wound into coils or processed as coatings and sheets.