Scanning Microwave Microscopy Characterization of Spin-Spray-Deposited Ferrite/Nonmagnetic Films

In this study, we performed single-grain-boundary characterization of ferrite films at radio and microwave frequencies using scanning microwave microscopy (SMM). The sample consisted of Fe₃O₄/photoresist/Fe₃O₄ multilayers deposited on glass substrate at 90°C by spin-spray coating. SMM images were recorded at various resonant frequencies between 2.0 GHz and 8.0 GHz. These images showed higher electrical conductivity at grain boundaries than at the core of grains. This phenomenon can be explained by space-charge accumulation at the grain boundary.     

Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of amorphous metallic spheroidal-and flake-based magnetodielectric composites

Flexible,lightweight,conductive materials,having both high rf losses and high permeability,are extremely desirable for applications as electromagnetic(EM)shielding.Gas atomized spherical FeSi-based ferromagnetic metallic particles,having a mean diameter of 14.6 μm with a standard deviation of 7.3 μm,were measured to have a room temperature saturation magnetic flux density of 1.49 T with a coercivity of 160 A/m.Ball milling of the amorphous particles led to aspect ratios from 1:1(spherical)to＞100:1(flake-like).Flake-like particles,suspended in paraffin,were found to not only increase the surface area of fillers enhancing the polarization mechanism but also increase the complex permeability and complex permittivity,and thus provide broadband shielding effectiveness.A loading factor of 40 vol.％of the～15 μm diameter powders provided the largest △WRL=-20dB of 9.49 GHz(i.e.,6.55＜f＜16.04 GHz)at a coating thickness of 2 mm.Overall,powder composites show a wide absorption potential above 18 GHz for＜1.5 mm thicknesses.The optimized flake-based composites exhibit strong EM wave absorption with an SE of-40 dB and SE＜-10 dB of 17.57 GHz at 40 vol.％filler at a thickness of 1.6 mm.     

Growth behaviors and characteristics of low temperature spin-sprayed ZnO and Al-doped ZnO microstructures

The influence of growth parameters of the spin-spray technique upon the microstructure and electrical and optical properties of ZnO and Al-doped ZnO microstructures was investigated. This investigation was carried out by varying the pH and concentration of the solutions utilized. With increasing pH from 9 to 12, the ZnO films changed from membrane-like microstructures at a pH of 9 to single crystal ZnO rods with hexagonal ends at the pH of 10, and to polycrystal ZnO needle-like tips with random crystalline orientation at the pH of 12. Varying the concentration of the solution brought about a dramatic change in the crystal growth behavior and crystalline orientation, with the least concentration producing rods more uniform and oriented in the c-axis direction. The optical absorption dependence of the ZnO microstructures was also studied by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer. This investigation will enable optimized low temperature (<100 °C) fabrication of ZnO films by the spin-spray technique with controllable microstructure and properties based on their processing conditions. Furthermore, the influence of Al doping on the electric property, optical property microstructures of the Al-doped ZnO thin films was examined. Increase in Al concentration from 0 to 2 % further reduced the resistivity of the ZnO films by 3 orders of magnitudes from 3.4 × 10⁴ to 14 Ω cm; while the Hall mobility increases from 1 to 140 cm²/V s at the same time. The optical photoluminescence measurement of Al-doped ZnO thin films in ultra violet (UV) was also demonstrated.     

Giant Electric Field Tuning of Magnetic Properties in Multiferroic Ferrite/Ferroelectric Heterostructures

Multiferroic heterostructures of Fe₃O₄/PZT (lead zirconium titanate), Fe₃O₄/PMN‐PT (lead magnesium niobate‐lead titanate) and Fe₃O₄/PZN‐PT (lead zinc niobate‐lead titanate) are prepared by spin‐spray depositing Fe₃O₄ ferrite film on ferroelectric PZT, PMN‐PT and PZN‐PT substrates at a low temperature of 90 °C. Strong magnetoelectric coupling (ME) and giant microwave tunability are demonstrated by a electrostatic field induced magnetic anisotropic field change in these heterostructures. A high electrostatically tunable ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) field shift up to 600 Oe, corresponding to a large microwave ME coefficient of 67 Oe cm kV^?1, is observed in Fe₃O₄/PMN‐PT heterostructures. A record‐high electrostatically tunable FMR field range of 860 Oe with a linewidth of 330–380 Oe is demonstrated in Fe₃O₄/PZN‐PT heterostructure, corresponding to a ME coefficient of 108 Oe cm kV^?1. Static ME interaction is also investigated and a maximum electric field induced squareness ratio change of 40% is observed in Fe₃O₄/PZN‐PT. In addition, a new concept that the external magnetic orientation and the electric field cooperate to determine microwave magnetic tunability is brought forth to significantly enhance the microwave tunable range up to 1000 Oe. These low temperature synthesized multiferroic heterostructures exhibiting giant electrostatically induced tunable magnetic resonance field at microwave frequencies provide great opportunities for electrostatically tunable microwave multiferroic devices.