Abstract
This letter presents the material properties of nanoparticle-doped liquid crystal (LC) mixtures at microwave frequencies. A host (undoped) nematic LC material is doped with several concentrations of ferroelectric, gold and silver nanoparticles. The measurements are conducted at 30 GHz by using a cavity perturbation method. Based on these measurements, relative permittivity and dielectric losses are extracted, then the resultant material tunability and figure-of-merit are calculated. Compared to the host LC, some changes in the electrical parameters of the doped samples are observed, reducing the tunability and material figure-of-merit of all samples. Nevertheless, depending on the shape of the nanoparticles, their impact on the material figure-of-merit is more significant than on the tunability, reducing the figure-of-merit drastically once the tunability changed slightly only.
Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges Deutsche Forschunggemanseim (DFG) for funding this work (Prj. Nr.: 576005), Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Wolfgang Haase and Dr. Artsiom Lapanik at Eduard-Zintl-Institut für Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie at Technische Universität Darmstadt for preparing the samples and Prof. Dr. Rolf Jakoby, Wenjuan Hu and Arshad Mehmood at the Institute for Microwave Engineering and Photonics at Technische Universität Darmstadt for supporting this work.
References
[1] C. D.Patel and G. M.Rebeiz, “A high-reliability high-linearity high-power RF MEMS metal-contact switch for DC-40-GHz applications,” IEEE Tran. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 60, no. 10, pp. 3096–3112, 2012.Search in Google Scholar
[2] A.Borgioli, Y.Liu, A. S.Nagra, and R. A.York, “Low-loss distributed MEMS phase shifter,” IEEE Microw. Guided Wave Lett., vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 7–9, 2000.10.1109/75.842070Search in Google Scholar
[3] J.Hayden and G.Rebeiz, “Very low-loss distributed x-band and ka-band MEMS phase shifters using metal-air-metal capacitors,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 51, pp. 309–314, 2003.10.1109/TMTT.2002.806520Search in Google Scholar
[4] K.Topalli, O.Civi, S.Demir, S.Koc, and T.Akin, “A monolithic phased array using 3-bit distributed RF MEMS phase shifters,” IEEE Trans Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 56, pp. 270–277, 2008.10.1109/TMTT.2007.914377Search in Google Scholar
[5] N.Kingsley, G. E.Ponchak, and J.Papapolymerou, “Reconfigurable RF MEMS phased array antenna integrated within a liquid crystal polymer (LCp) system-on-package,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 108–118, 2008.10.1109/TAP.2007.913151Search in Google Scholar
[6] D. Y. C.Lie and J.Lopez, “The design of monolithic ac-coupled 1-dimensional voltage-controlled-oscillators (VCOs) phased-array network,” AIP Conf. Proc., vol. 1339, no. 1, pp. 128–140, 2011.Search in Google Scholar
[7] X.Guan, H.Hashemi, and A.Hajimiri, “A fully integrated 24-GHz eight-element phased-array receiver in silicon,” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. 39, no. 12, pp. 2311–2320, 2004.Search in Google Scholar
[8] A. S.Nagra and R. A.York, “Distributed analog phase shifters with low insertion loss,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 47, no. 9, pp. 1705–1711, 1999.Search in Google Scholar
[9] D. C.Buck and F.Harris, “Quick evaluation method for microwave ferrites used in analog phase shifters,” J. Appl. Phys., vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 1418–1419, 1969.Search in Google Scholar
[10] A. S.Tatarenko, G.Srinivasan, and M. I.Bichurin, “Magnetoelectric microwave phase shifter,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 88, no. 18, pp. 183507, 183507–3, 2006.Search in Google Scholar
[11] T. J.Fal and R. E.Camley, “Hexagonal ferrites for use in microwave notch filters and phase shifters,” J. Appl. Phys., vol. 104, no. 2, pp. 023910, 023910–9, 2008.Search in Google Scholar
[12] A. B.Ustinov, G.Srinivasan, and B. A.Kalinikos, “Ferrite-ferroelectric hybrid wave phase shifters,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 90, no. 3, pp. 031913, 031913–3, 2007.Search in Google Scholar
[13] S.Sheng and C. K.Ong, “Coupled microstrip line microwave phase shifter using ferroelectric thin film varactors,” J. Appl. Phys., vol. 111, no. 4, pp. 044506, 044506–5, 2012.Search in Google Scholar
[14] B.Acikel, T.Taylor, P.Hansen, J.Speck, and R.York, “A new high performance phase shifter using BaxSr1-xTiO3 thin films,” IEEE Microwave Wireless Compon. Lett., vol. 12, no. 7, pp. 237–239, 2002.10.1109/LMWC.2002.801129Search in Google Scholar
[15] R. R.Romanofsky, J. T.Bernhard, F. W.van Keuls, F. A.Miranda, G.Washington, and C.Canedy, “K-band phased array antennas based on Ba0.60Sr0.40TiO3 thin-film phase shifters,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 48, no. 12, pp. 2504–2510, 2000.Search in Google Scholar
[16] F.Goelden, S.Mueller, P.Scheele, M.Wittek, and R.Jakoby, “IP3 measurements of liquid crystals at microwave frequencies,” in 36th European Microwave Conf., 2006, pp. 971–974.10.1109/EUMC.2006.281084Search in Google Scholar
[17] O. H.Karabey, A.Gaebler, S.Strunck, and R.Jakoby, “A 2-D electronically steered phased-array antenna with 2×2 elements in LC display technology,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 1297–1306, 2012.Search in Google Scholar
[18] S.Mueller, A.Penirschke, C.Damm, P.Scheele, M.Wittek, C.Weil, and R.Jakoby, “Broad-band microwave characterization of liquid crystals using a temperature-controlled coaxial transmission line,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 1937–1945, 2005.Search in Google Scholar
[19] C.Weickhmann, R.Jakoby, E.Constable, and R.Lewis, “Time-domain spectroscopy of novel nematic liquid crystals in the terahertz range,” in 38th Int. Conf. on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), 2013, pp. 1–2.10.1109/IRMMW-THz.2013.6665423Search in Google Scholar
[20] R.Jakoby, P.Scheele, S.Muller, and C.Weil, “Nonlinear dielectrics for tunable microwave components,” in 15th Int. Conf. on Microwaves, Radar and Wireless Communications, 2004, MIKON-2004, 2004, vol. 2, pp. 369–378.Search in Google Scholar
[21] F.Goelden, A.Gaebler, S.Mueller, A.Lapanik, W.Haase, and R.Jakoby, “Liquid-crystal varactors with fast switching times for microwave applications,” Electron. Lett., vol. 44, no. 7, pp. 480–481, 2008.10.1049/el:20080161Search in Google Scholar
[22] S.Bulja and D.Mirshekar-Syahkal, “Meander line millimetre-wave liquid crystal based phase shifter,” Electron. Lett., vol. 46, no. 11, pp. 769–771, 2010.10.1049/el.2010.3513Search in Google Scholar
[23] C.Fritzsch, F.Giacomozzi, O.Karabey, S.Bildik, S.Colpo, and R.Jakoby, “Advanced characterization of a w-band phase shifter based on liquid crystals and MEMS technology,” Int. J. Microwave Wireless Technol., vol. 4, pp. 379–386, 2012.10.1017/S1759078712000311Search in Google Scholar
[24] O.Karabey, F.Goelden, A.Gaebler, S.Strunck, and R.Jakoby, “Tunable loaded line phase shifters for microwave applications,” in 2011 IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Dig. (MTT), 2011, pp. 1–4.10.1109/MWSYM.2011.5972634Search in Google Scholar
[25] F.Goelden, A.Gaebler, O. H.Karabey, M.Goebel, A. A.Manabe, and R.Jakoby, “Tunable band-pass filter based on liquid crystal,” in German Microwave Conf., 2010, pp. 98–101.Search in Google Scholar
[26] W.Hu, R.Cahill, J.Encinar, R.Dickie, H.Gamble, V.Fusco, and N.Grant, “Design and measurement of reconfigurable millimeter wave reflectarray cells with nematic liquid crystal,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol. 56, no. 10, pp. 3112–3117, 2008.Search in Google Scholar
[27] S.Bildik, S.Dieter, C.Fritzsch, M.Frei, C.Fischer, W.Menzel, and R.Jakoby, “Reconfigurable liquid crystal reflectarray with extended tunable phase range,” in 2011 41st European Microwave Conf. (EuMC), 2011, pp. 1292–1295.Search in Google Scholar
[28] B.Sanadgol, S.Holzwarth, and J.Kassner, “30 GHz liquid crystal phased array,” in Antennas & Propagation Conf., 2009, LAPC 2009, Loughborough, 2009, pp. 589–592.10.1109/LAPC.2009.5352427Search in Google Scholar
[29] O. H.Karabey, S.Bildik, S.Bausch, S.Strunck, A.Gaebler, and R.Jakoby, “Continuously polarization agile antenna by using liquid crystal-based tunable variable delay lines,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 70–76, 2013.10.1109/TAP.2012.2213232Search in Google Scholar
[30] Y.-S.Ha, H.-J.Kim, H.-G.Park, and D.-S.Seo, “Enhancement of electro-optic properties in liquid crystal devices via titanium nanoparticle doping,” Opt. Express, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 6448–6455, Mar. 2012.Search in Google Scholar
[31] J.-F.Blach, S.Saitzek, C.Legrand, L.Dupont, J.-F.Henninot, and M.Warenghem, “BaTiO3 ferroelectric nanoparticles dispersed in 5cb nematic liquid crystal: synthesis and electro-optical characterization,” J. Appl. Phys., vol. 107, no. 7, p. 074102, 2010.Search in Google Scholar
[32] A.Lorenz, N.Zimmermann, S.Kumar, D. R.Evans, G.Cook, and H.-S.Kitzerow, “Doping the nematic liquid crystal 5cb with milled BaTiO3 nanoparticles,” Phys. Rev. E, vol. 86, p. 051704, Nov. 2012.Search in Google Scholar
[33] C.-Y.Tang, S.-M.Huang, and W.Lee, “Electrical properties of nematic liquid crystals doped with anatase TiO2 nanoparticles,” J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., vol. 44, no. 35, p. 355102, 2011.Search in Google Scholar
[34] K. K.Vardanyan, R. D.Walton, and D. M.Bubb, “Liquid crystal composites with a high percentage of gold nanoparticles,” Liq. Cryst., vol. 38, no. 10, pp. 1279–1287, 2011.Search in Google Scholar
[35] G.Zhang, X.Chen, J.Zhao, Y.Chai, W.Zhuang, and L.Wang, “Electrophoretic deposition of silver nanoparticles in lamellar lyotropic liquid crystal,” Mater. Lett., vol. 60, no. 23, pp. 2889–2892, 2006.Search in Google Scholar
[36] R.Basu, “Effect of carbon nanotubes on the field-induced nematic switching,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 103, no. 24, pp. 241906, 241906–4, 2013.Search in Google Scholar
[37] O.Trushkevych, F.Goelden, M.Pivnenko, H.Xu, N.Collings, W.Crossland, S.Mueller, and R.Jakoby, “Dielectric anisotropy of nematic liquid crystals loaded with carbon nanotubes in microwave range,” Electron. Lett., vol. 46, no. 10, pp. 693–695, 2010.10.1049/el.2010.0752Search in Google Scholar
[38] F.Goelden, “Liquid crystal based microwave components with fast response times: material, technology, power handling capability,” Ph.D. dissertation, Technischen Universitaet Darmstadt, Darmstadt, 2009.Search in Google Scholar
[39] L. F.Chen, C. K.Ong, C. P.Neo, V. V.Varadan, and V. K.Varadan, Eds., Microwave Electronics. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8SQ, England, 2004.Search in Google Scholar
[40] F.Goelden, A.Lapanik, A.Gaebler, S.Mueller, W.Haase, and R.Jakoby, “Systematic investigation of nematic liquid crystal mixtures at 30 GHz,” in 2007 Dig. of the IEEE/LEOS Summer Topical Meetings, 2007, pp. 202–203.10.1109/LEOSST.2007.4288403Search in Google Scholar
[41] D.-K.Yang and S.-T.Wu, Eds., Fundamentals of Liquid Crystal Devices. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8SQ, England, 2006.Search in Google Scholar
[42] T.Hegmann, H.Qi, and V. M.Marx, “Nanoparticles in liquid crystals: synthesis, self-assembly, defect formation and potential applications,” J. Inorg. Organomet. Polym. Mater., vol. 17, pp. 483–508, 2007.10.1007/s10904-007-9140-5Search in Google Scholar
[43] S.Kango, S.Kalia, A.Celli, J.Njuguna, Y.Habibi, and R.Kumar, “Surface modification of inorganic nanoparticles for development of organic ‘inorganic nanocomposites’ a review’,” Prog. Polym. Sci., vol. 38, no. 8, pp. 1232–1261, 2013. Topical Issue on Polymer Hybrids.10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2013.02.003Search in Google Scholar
[44] G.Scalia, J. P. F.Lagerwall, S.Schymura, M.Haluska, F.Giesselmann, and S.Roth, “Carbon nanotubes in liquid crystals as versatile functional materials,” Phys. Status Solidi (B), vol. 244, no. 11, pp. 4212–4217, 2007.Search in Google Scholar
[45] A.Lapanik, “Liquid crystal systems for microwave applications,” Ph.D. dissertation, Technischen Universitaet Darmstadt, Darmstadt, 2009.Search in Google Scholar
©2015 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Design and Implementation of an Adaptive Space–Time Antenna Array for GPS Receivers
- Novel Compact Mushroom-Type EBG Structure for Electromagnetic Coupling Reduction of Microstrip Antenna array
- Gain Improvement of Microstrip Patch Antenna Using CLS Split Ring Resonator Metamaterial
- Microwave Material Properties of Nanoparticle-Doped Nematic Liquid Crystals
- Attenuation in Superconducting Rectangular Waveguides
- Time–Frequency Distribution Analyses of Ku-Band Radar Doppler Echo Signals
- Optimal Beamforming and Performance Analysis of Wireless Relay Networks with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
- Cluster-Based Multipolling Sequencing Algorithm for Collecting RFID Data in Wireless LANs
- An Adaptive Cooperative Strategy for Underlay MIMO Cognitive Radio Networks: An Opportunistic and Low-Complexity Approach
- Opportunistic Channel Scheduling for Ad Hoc Networks with Queue Stability
- Turbo Codes with Modified Code Matched Interleaver for Coded-Cooperation in Half-Duplex Wireless Relay Networks
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Design and Implementation of an Adaptive Space–Time Antenna Array for GPS Receivers
- Novel Compact Mushroom-Type EBG Structure for Electromagnetic Coupling Reduction of Microstrip Antenna array
- Gain Improvement of Microstrip Patch Antenna Using CLS Split Ring Resonator Metamaterial
- Microwave Material Properties of Nanoparticle-Doped Nematic Liquid Crystals
- Attenuation in Superconducting Rectangular Waveguides
- Time–Frequency Distribution Analyses of Ku-Band Radar Doppler Echo Signals
- Optimal Beamforming and Performance Analysis of Wireless Relay Networks with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
- Cluster-Based Multipolling Sequencing Algorithm for Collecting RFID Data in Wireless LANs
- An Adaptive Cooperative Strategy for Underlay MIMO Cognitive Radio Networks: An Opportunistic and Low-Complexity Approach
- Opportunistic Channel Scheduling for Ad Hoc Networks with Queue Stability
- Turbo Codes with Modified Code Matched Interleaver for Coded-Cooperation in Half-Duplex Wireless Relay Networks