Flexible LiZnTiMn ferrite/PDMS composites with enhanced magnetic-dielectric properties for miniaturized application

Abstract Flexible electronics are usually fabricated using stretchable or foldable materials, whereas these materials have no predominance in miniaturization of high-frequency flexible electronics because of low permittivity. In effort to scale down dimensions of electronic devices, the use of ferrite ceramic/polymer matrix may offer superiority over conventional dielectric ceramics. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which exhibits high transparency and stretchability, has emerged as functional or substrate material for high-performance devices, such as RF antenna. Here, to improve high-frequency magnetic-dielectric properties of PDMS matrix, a high-performance LiZnTiMn (LZTM) ferrite is synthesized and added in the PDMS matrix. We demonstrate, through magnetic, dielectric spectra and elasticity test, a flexible 3L/PDMS composites (f = 1.0 GHz, μr = 2.87, er = 6.51, tanδμ = 0.55, tanδe = 0.015) was prepared by using mechanical mixing method. Moreover, the elastic modulus and miniaturization factor (n) of the flexible composite are 16.78 MPa and 4.32@1.0 GHz, respectively. The present results provide a reference connecting flexible electronic and RF devices, and offer experience on how to enhance high-frequency performance of polymer-matrix based on ceramic material.