Integrating Nano-patterned Ferromagnetic and Ferroelectric Thin Films for Electrically Tunable RF Applications

Journal Article · Mon Oct 31 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TMTT.2016.2616869· OSTI ID:1339551

Wang, Tengxing ^[1]; Peng, Yujia ^[1]; Jiang, Wei ^[1]; Huang, Yong Mao ^[1]; Rahman, B.M. Farid ^[1]; Divan, Ralu ^[2]; Rosenmann, Daniel ^[2]; Wang, Guoan ^[2]

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1. Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States)
2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)

Tunable radio frequency (RF) components are pivotal elements in frequency-agile and multifunctional systems. However, there is a technical barrier to achieve miniaturized fully electrically tunable RF components. This paper provides and demonstrates the efficacy of a first unique design methodology in developing fully electrically tunable RF components by integrating ferromagnetic (e.g., Permalloy) and ferroelectric (e.g., Lead Zirconate Titanate: PZT) thin films patterns. Permalloy thin film has been patterned in nanometer scale to improve its ferromagnetic resonance frequency (FMR) for RF applications. Tunable inductors are developed with the utilization of different thickness of Permalloy thin film, which show over 50% increment in inductance and over 4% in tunability with DC current. More tunability can be achieved with multiple layers of Permalloy thin film and optimized thickness. A fully electrically tunable slow wave RF transmission line with simultaneously variable inductance and capacitance density has been implemented and thoroughly investigated for the first time. Measured results show that a fixed phase shift of 90° can be achieved from 1.5 GHz to 1.85 GHz continuously by applying external DC current from 0 to 200 mA and external DC voltage from 0 to 15 Volts, respectively.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1339551
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. PP, Issue 99; ISSN 0018-9480
• Publisher: IEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
Electrically tunable
ferroelectric thin film
ferromagnetic thin film
nano-patterns
radio frequency (RF) components