Modeling of patch antennas and resonators on arbitrary dielectric substrates using surface RWG and volume edge based basis functions and the Method of Moments is implemented. The performance of the solver is studied for different mesh configurations. The results obtained are tested by comparison with experiments and Ansoft HFSS v9 simulator. The latter uses a large number of finite elements (up to 200K) and adaptive mesh refinement, thus providing the reliable data for comparison. The error in the resonant frequency is estimated for canonical resonator structures at different values of the relative dielectric constant ƒÕr, which ranges from 1 to 200. The reported results show a near perfect agreement in the estimation of resonant frequency for all the metal-dielectric resonators. Behavior of the antenna input impedance is tested, close to the first resonant frequency for the patch antenna. The error in the resonant frequency is estimated for different structures at different values of the relative dielectric constant ƒÕr, which ranges from 1 to 10. A larger error is observed in the calculation of the resonant frequency of the patch antenna. Moreover, this error increases with increase in the dielectric constant of the substrate. Further scope for improvement lies in the investigation of this effect.

Touch is one of the less exploited sensory channels in human machine interactions. While the introduction of the tactile feedback would improve the user experience in several fields, such as training for medical operators, teleoperation, computer aided design and 3D model exploration, no interfaces able to mimic accurately and realistically the tactile feeling produced by the contact with a real soft object are currently available. Devices able to simulate the contact with soft bodies, such as the human organs, might improve the experience. The existing commercially available tactile displays consist of complex mechanisms that limit their portability. Moreover, no devices are able to provide tactile stimuli via a soft interface that can also modulate the contact area with the finger pad, which is required to realistically mimic the contact with soft bodies, as needed for example in systems aimed at simulating interactions with virtual biological tissues or in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. The aim of this thesis is to develop such a wearable tactile display based on the dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs). DEAs are a class of materials that respond to an electric field producing a deformation. In particular, in this thesis, the tactile element consists of a so-called hydrostatically coupled dielectric elastomer actuator (HC-DEAs). HC-DEAs rely on an incompressible fluid that hydrostatically couples a DEA-based active part to a passive part interfaced to the user. The display was also tested within a closed-loop configuration consisting of a hand tracking system and a custom made virtual environment. This proof of concept system allowed for a validation of the abilities of the display. Mechanical and psychophysical tests were performed in order to assess the ability of the system to provide tactile stimuli that can be distinguished by the users. Also, the miniaturisation of the HC-DEA was investigated for applications in refreshable Braille displays or arrays of tactile elements for tactile maps.

La dispersion des nanotubes de carbone (NTC) dans le polyfluorure de vinylidène (PVDF) est un grand défi pour avoir de meilleures propriétés diélectriques. Les hybrides, titanate de baryum (BT)-NTC, ayant une structure particulière sont révélés être efficaces pour l'amélioration de la dispersion de NTC dans la matrice de polymère et la réduction du seuil de percolation du matériau composite. Cette thèse vise à atteindre une haute performance diélectrique du composite via la conception de charges ayant une structure favorable ainsi que l'étude exhaustive de l'interaction entre les NTC et la matrice de polymère semi-cristallin.Dans le chapitre 1, un bref revu de l'état de l'art sur le contexte général des matériaux diélectrique est introduite ainsi les progrès récents dans ce domaine sont présentés pour mieux comprendre les composites et leurs application.Dans le chapitre 2, nous préparons deux types d'hybrides avec deux structures différentes. Les premiers hybrides sont préparés par un dépôt chimique en phase vapeur (CVD). Les BT forment le noyau de ces hybrides et les NTC croient dessus (H-NTC-BT). Les deuxième hybrides sont préparées par réaction hydrothermale où NTC sont revêtus par les BT (H-BT-NTC). Par la suite, nous préparons des composites avec une matrice de PVDF renforcés par les deux types d'hybrides déjà synthétisés cela en coulant la solution puis par extrusion-injection. En outre, les méthodes de caractérisation de la morphologie, des propriétés thermiques, diélectriques et la cristallisation sont également introduites dans ce chapitre.Dans le chapitre 3, les comportements diélectriques de H-NTC-BT/PVDF sont étudiés en détails. Une augmentation dramatique de la permittivité diélectrique est observée après le traitement thermique. Ce changement peut être dû à la réorganisation du réseau conducteur de NTC et la recristallisation de PVDF. Par la modélisation et la caractérisation expérimentale, Nous déduisons que cette augmentation significative de la permittivité diélectrique après le traitement thermique est dû au rétrécissement de la distance de NTC dans des couches amorphes voisine de PVDF d'un côte et au polymorphe β à l'interface NTC-PVDF d'un autre.Dans le chapitre 4, la dispersion des NTC dans la matrice du composite PVDF est étudiée par la conception de différentes structures. Tout d'abord, une comparaison du seuil de percolation de H-NTC-BT/PVDF calculé et celui déterminé expérimentalement est menée pour mieux comprendre la morphologie de H-NTC-BT. Ensuite, deux comparaisons sont menées:- La première compare les facteurs de transformation de la dispersion des NTC dans les composites H-NTC-BT/PVDF et NTC/PVDF cela en mesurant de la conductivité AC dans les différentes couches de ces composites.- La deuxième compare trois types de composites de PVDF renforcés par des hybrides ayant la même fraction volumique de NTC et BT mais des structures différentes. L'effet de ces différentes structures de ces hybrides est étudié en comparant leurs propriétés diélectriques.Pour finir une conclusion générale est présentée dans le chapitre 5 ainsi les perspectives prévues pour les travaux futurs. / The dispersibility of carbon nanotube (CNT) in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is always a big challenge for the high dielectric property. Barium titanate (BT)-CNT hybrids with the special structure are proved to be effective for improving the dispersion of CNT in the polymer matrix and reduce the percolation threshold of the composite. This thesis aims to achieve high dielectric performance of composites via designing fillers with the favorable structure as well as comprehensively study the interaction between CNT and semi-crystalline polymer matrix.In chapter 1, we provide a general introduction about dielectric material's background knowledge. Meanwhile the development including recent breakthroughs and their applications for the dielectric field are also provided in this chapter.In chapter 2, we prepare two hybrids with different structures. The first hybrids are prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. It is with the structure of BT as a core and CNTs growing outsides (H-CNT-BT). The second hybrids are prepared by hydrothermal reaction where BT particles coats outside CNT (H-BT-CNT). Meanwhile, we fabricate hybrids reinforced PVDF matrix composites by solution casting plus extrusion-injection way. Additionally, methods for characterization involving morphology, thermal and dielectric properties as well as crystallization are also introduced in this chapter.In chapter 3, the dielectric behaviors of H-CNT-BT/PVDF are studied concretely. A dramatic increment on dielectric permittivity is observed after the thermal treatment. This change may result from the reformation of CNT's conductive network and the behavior of PVDF's re-crystallization. By modeling work and experimental characterization, the shrinkage of the neighboring CNT's distance in PVDF's amorphous layers and the induced β polymorph at the CNT-PVDF interface may cause the significant increment in dielectric permittivity after the thermal treatment.In chapter 4, the CNT's dispersibility in PVDF matrix composites is studied by designing different structures. Firstly, a comparison between calculated and experimental percolation threshold of H-CNT-BT/PVDF is conducted for studying the morphology parameters of H-CNT-BT. Afterwards, two comparisons are conducted: one is between H-CNT-BT/PVDF and CNT/PVDF. The processing factors for the CNT's dispersibility are discussed via measuring the different layer's AC conductivity. The other is among three hybrids reinforced PVDF composites. The hybrids structure's effect the CNT's dispersibility is discussed via comparing the dielectric property of the composites with the same volume fraction of CNT and BT but different structures.In chapter 5, a general conclusion is formed according to the works and the perspective is provided for the improvement of the future work.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Steven Lee Garverick. / M.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 91-93. / by Byung Hoon Kim. / M.S.

Neste trabalho foi investigado o processo de relaxação em copolímeros metacrilicos funcionalizados com o grupo cromóforo 4-[N-etil-N-(2-hidroxietil)]amino-2\'-cloro-4\'nitro-azobenzeno (MMADRI3). Os copolímeros sintetizados foram caracterizados por espectrofotometria de visível e infravermelho, calorimetria diferencial de varredura, análise termogravimétrica e elipsometria. O triodo de corona foi utilizado para induzir a orientação dos cromóforos dipolares a temperaturas próximas da transição vítrea. Os valores do coeficiente eletroóptico linear r13 de filmes obtidos por derramento de solução podem alcançar 14 pm/V em amostras funcionalizadas com 43%de cromóforo.O efeito piezoelétricoé significativo para amostras contendo 4% de cromóforo sendo a sua origem atribuída à carga espacial. A relaxação orientacional dos cromóforos foi estudada medindo-se o decaimento do coeficiente eletroóptico e a relaxação dielétrica a diferentes temperaturas. O processo de relaxação foi interpretado utilizando a equação de Kohlraush-Williams-Watts (KWW) aplicada aos domínios do tempo e da freqüência. O tempo de relaxação característico &#964 e o parâmetro b da equação de KWW foram obtidos como função da temperatura desde a temperatura ambiente até acima da temperatura de transição vítrea. O parâmetro b à temperatura de transição vítrea aproxima-se de 0,6 valor que é atribuído a forças de curto alcance. As medidas dielétricas revelaram duas bandas de relaxação &#946 e &#945 respectivamente a baixas e a altas temperaturas. A relaxação a está relacionada com a transição vítrea e à desorientação dos cromóforos. A dependência de &#964 foi fundamentada nas equações de Arrhenius e de Vogel-Fulcher-Tarmnann-Hesse (VFTH), respectivamente a baixas e a altas temperaturas. Os parâmetros de VFTH encontram-se próximos dos considerados universais. O comportamento de &#964 em toda a gama de temperaturas, foi explicado pela equação de Adam-Gibbs, usando-se os parâmetros de VFTH. O resfriamento a taxas lentas após o processo de polarização aumenta substancialmente o tempo de relaxação e a sua energia de ativação. Os expoentes m e n do modelo de Dissado-Hill baseado na interação de multicorpos foram obtidos em função da temperatura. Os valores do parâmetro n ficam dentro do esperado pela teoria / The relaxation process of side-chain methacrylate copolymers functionalized with the nonlinear optical azo chromophore 4-[Nethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)]-amino-2\'-chloro-4-nitroazobenzene (MMADR13) was investigated. The copolymers synthesized were characterized by visible and infrared spectrophotometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and ellipsometry. The corona triode was employed to induce the orientation of the dipolar chromophore at a temperature near the glass transition. The linear eletrooptic coefficient r13 of cast fllms can reach values as high as 14 pm/V in samples with 43% of chromophore contento The piezoeletric effect attributed to space charge was only significant in the lowest chromophore content samples (4%). Electrostriction was shown to affect to some extent the quadratic electrooptic measurements. The chromophore relaxation at different temperatures was investigated by both electrooptic decay and dielectric measurements. The relaxation process was interpreted using the Kohlraush-Williams-Watts (KWW) equation both in the time and frequency domains. From the KWW equation the characteristic relaxation time &#964 and the stretching parameter b were obtained from room temperature to temperatures above the glass transition. Near the glass transition b is ca 0.6 which is characteristic of short range interactions. Dielectric measurements revealed two relaxation bands, &#946 and &#945, at low and high temperatures, respectively. The &#945 relaxation was attributed to the glass transition and to the 10ss of chromophore orientational order. The temperature behavior of &#964 was interpreted by the Arrhenius and Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann-Hesse (VFTH) equations. at low and high temperatures. respectivelly. The VFTH parameters lie close to the so-called universal values. In addition the overall temperature dependence was explained by the Adam-Gibbs equation using the VFTH parameters. Using a small cooling rate after corona poling increases substantially the relaxation time and the activation energy .The power law exponents m and n. from Dissado-Hill manybody interactions model were obtained as a function of temperature. The n values are in the range of expected values for the many-body interactions model

O titanato de estrôncio (SrTiO3) possui estrutura cristalina do tipo perovsquita. Materiais com este tipo de estrutura são utilizados para diversas aplicações, tais como, sensores, atuadores, em células a combustível de óxido sólido, entre outros. Devido as suas interessantes propriedades físicas, o SrTiO3 vem sendo intensamente estudado, em especial com a introdução de dopantes. Portanto, neste trabalho foi investigada a influência de diferentes teores de Ca (1; 2,5 e 5% mol) e Pr (0,025; 0,050; 0,075 e 1% mol) na microestrutura e propriedades elétricas e dielétricas do SrTiO3, assim como o material sem aditivos (puro). Os resultados mostram que após a sinterização do SrTiO3 puro, a microestrutura consiste de grãos poligonais com tamanho médio micrométrico, além de texturas lisas e rugosas. A condutividade elétrica das amostras sintetizadas sinterizadas a 1450 e 1500ºC é máxima para 2 horas de patamar. Apenas as amostras de SrTiO3 contendo 1% em mol de Ca apresentam fase única. O tamanho médio de grãos das amostras contendo 1% em mol de Ca é 10,65 ± 0,28 µm e para teores acima deste valor ocorre crescimento significativo dos grãos. As medidas de condutividade elétrica mostraram que as amostras contendo a adição de 1% em mol de Ca possuem maior condutividade dos grãos em relação ao material puro. Para as amostras contendo teores de até 0,075% mol de Pr, pode-se observar alguns grãos lisos e outros rugosos e não há variação considerável do tamanho médio de grãos. As amostras contendo menor teor de Pr (0,025% mol) apresentam maior condutividade dos grãos e contornos de grãos. As amostras de SrTiO3 sintetizado sinterizadas a 1450ºC/10 h apresentaram permissividade elétrica colossal em temperatura ambiente em altas frequências. / Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) exhibits cubic perovskite type crystalline structure at room temperature. Polycrystalline ceramics with this structure are potential candidates for a number of applications including sensors, actuators and in solid oxide fuel cells. Several properties of SrTiO3 are strongly dependent on addition of both donors and acceptors additives. Then, there is a growing interest for studying its properties as a function of type and concentration of additives. In this study, the effects of Ca (1, 2.5 and 5 mol%) and Pr (0.025 to 1 mol%) additions on microstructure and electric and dielectric properties of SrTiO3 were investigated. The microstructure of pure SrTiO3 consists of polygonal grains with average grain size in the micrometer range, and the electric conductivity is maximized after sintering for 2 h at 1450 and 1500ºC. Specimens containing 1 mol% Ca are single phase and the average grain size is 10.65 ± 0.28 µm, but for higher additive contents grain growth is observed. The electric conductivity of SrTiO3 with 1 mol% Ca is higher than that of the pure ceramic. Specimens containing Pr do not show significant grain growth, and the higher conductivity of grains and grain boundaries was achieved with 0.025 mol% Pr. Pure SrTiO3 sintered at 1450ºC for 10 h shows colossal dielectric permittivity (> 1.000) at room temperature, in contrast to specimens prepared with commercial powder (dielectric permittivity = 300), at high frequencies.

This thesis presents the investigation of the liquid crystal (LC) - particle suspensions. Particles from nano- to micro-size, spherical to two-dimensional shapes, with different functionality are dispersed into nematic and smectic phases. The aim is to create ordered nanoparticle (NP) assemblies and thereby modify the common properties of the liquid crystal, such as dielectric anisotropy and electro-optical, revealing any interaction between particles and LC properties. It is found that for concentrations (>0.5vol%), the ferroelectric NPs have increased the sensitivity of the nematic liquid crystal to the electric field through electro-optical responses, which is seen by an enhancement in the dielectric anisotropy. This could be induced by the coupling of the electrical dipole moments in the spherical NPs with the LC director field. The electro-optical properties of the chiral smectic (SmC*) phase (tilt angle Θ, switching time τ_s and spontaneous polarisation P_s) are found to be independent of the concentration and sizes of the doped NPs. The relaxation frequency f_R of the Goldstone mode is faster in the ferroelectric NPs suspensions of 2.0vol% compared to the paraelectric NPs. In the graphene oxide (GO) - nematic LC (5CB) suspensions, the small GO sizes of mean size 560 nm are more easily dispersible than larger flakes of 2.8 micro metre mean size. As the GO concentration is increased, each of the threshold voltage and splay elastic constant dramatically increases, reaching saturation at ≈1.0wt%. The field driven switching-on time is practically not affected, while the purely elastically driven switching-off time is strongly sped-up. Interestingly, thermotropic and lyotropic LC phases are exhibited in the GO-5CB suspensions when heating the thermotropic liquid crystal into its isotropic phase. The isotropic phase of 5CB acts as a solvent for the GO particles, forming a lyotropic nematic phase with largely reduced birefringence. It is found that the nematic to isotropic phase transition is shifted toward higher temperature for the GO-5CB system compared to the BaTiO3-5CB system. Dispersions of different sizes of GO flakes are prepared in isotropic and nematic fluid media. The dielectric relaxation behaviour of GO-dispersions was examined for a wide temperature range (25-60 ℃) and frequency range (100 Hz-2 MHz). The mixtures containing GO flakes were found to exhibit varying dielectric relaxation processes, depending on the size of the flakes and the elastic properties of the dispersant fluid. The relaxation frequencies in the isotropic media were lower compared to the nematic medium. Relaxation frequencies (~10 kHz) are observed in the GO-isotropic media, which are reduced as the size of the GO flakes are decreased, are anticipated to be inherited from GO flakes. However, the fast relaxations (~100 kHz) that are observed in the nematic suspensions could imply strongly slowed down molecular relaxation modes of the nematogenic molecules. Finally, the phase diagram of lyotropic LC as a function of the lateral dimensions of the GO flakes, their concentration, geometrical confinement configuration and solvent polarity was investigated. Polarising optical microscopy was used to determine isotropic-biphasic-nematic phase evolution. The confinement volume and geometry of the sample relative to the GO size are shown to be vital to the observation of the lyotropic phase. GO LCs have the potential for a range of applications from display technologies to conductive fibres. The confinement related LC phase transition is critical toward their applications. It is also found that the stability of the LC phase is higher for the solvent of higher dielectric constant.

We have investigated the structure and interfacial structure of two types of high-k dielectric thin films on Si using combined experimental and theoretical approaches. In the Hf-based high- k dielectrics, the crystallinity of three films, pure HfO2, Y-incorporated HfO2 and Al-incorporated HfO2, is examined by transmission electron diffraction (TED), and the local coordination symmetries of the Hf atoms in the films are revealed by the profile of electron energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) taken at oxygen K-edge. These ELNES spectra are then simulated using real-space multiple-scattering (RSMS) method. We find a good agreement between the experimental and the simulated result of pure HfO2. The incorporation of Y indeed stabilizes HfO 2 to a cubic structure, but it also contributes to possible lattice distortion and creation of complex defect states, causing discrepancies between the experimental and the simulated result. As a comparison, the local coordination symmetry of Hf is largely degraded upon the incorporation of Al, which not only amorphorizes HfO2, but also introduces significantly amount of O vacancies in the film. We have further investigated the interfacial structures of HfO2 and Al-incorporated HfO2 thin films on Si using spatially resolved ELNES, which a series of the oxygen K-edge spectra is acquired when a 0.3 nm electron probe scanning across the film/Si interface. We find that interfaces are not atomically sharp, and variation in the local coordination symmetry of Hf atoms lasts for a couple of monolayers for both the HfO2 and the Al-incorporated HfO2 samples. Annealing of the HfO2 film in the oxygen environment leads to the formation of a thick SiO2/SiOx stack layer in-between the original HfO2 and the Si substrate. As a comparison, the interfacial stability is significantly improved by incorporating Al into the HfO 2 film to form HfAlO, which effectively reduces/eliminates the interfacial silicon oxide formation during the oxygen annealing process. The interfacial structure of SiTiO3 (STO) dielectric and Si is significant different from that between Hf-based dielectric and Si, as the crystalline STO is epitaxially grown on the Si. Together with the high resolution high-angle annular-dark-field (HAADF) image, the spatially resolved ELNES acquired across the STO/Si interface reveal an amorphous interfacial region of 1-2 monolayer thickness, which is lack of Sr, but contains Ti, Si, and O. Based on these experimental evidences, we propose a classical molecular dynamic (MD) interface model, in which the STO is connected to Si by a distorted Ti-O layer and a complex Si-O layer. The simulated results, based on the MD interface model, generally agree with the experimental results, disclosing a gradual change of the local atomic coordination symmetry and possible defect incorporation at the interface. / Wang, Xiaofeng = Si衬底上高k介电薄膜的结构研究 / 王晓峰. / Adviser: Li Quan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-11, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-112). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Wang, Xiaofeng = Si chen di shang gao k jie dian bo mo de jie gou yan jiu / Wang Xiaofeng.

Face à la volonté d’intégrer une quantité toujours plus importante de nouveaux services au sein des terminaux mobiles de nouvelle génération et afin de répondre à leurs contraintes d’encombrement, des nouveaux concepts d’antennes intelligentes font l’objet de nombreuses recherches. Parmi les solutions proposées dans la littérature, la technique consistant à charger l’antenne par un matériau aux propriétés commandables apparaît particulièrement intéressante puisque elle cumule les effets de miniaturisation et d’agilité. Le travail de cette thèse concerne l’intégration des films minces La-Ti-O-N et BST dans des antennes miniatures et agiles en fréquence. Pour cela, une étude systématique des propriétés diélectriques (constante, tangente de pertes et accordabilité) des films La-Ti-O-N a été réalisée en basses et hautes fréquences. Ces propriétés sont fonction des caractéristiques structurales des films, elles-mêmes issues de la nature du substrat utilisé et des conditions de dépôt. En parallèle, une étude sur l’intégration de ces matériaux dans des structures rayonnantes pour atteindre l’agilité souhaitée a été menée. De premiers démonstrateurs d’antennes miniatures et reconfigurables à base des films minces La-Ti-O-N et BST ont été réalisés et caractérisés. / Given the desire to integrate a large number of new services in latest generation of hand held devices and in order to meet their dimensional constraints, new concepts of smart antennas are considered to be the subject of many researches. Among several solutions mentioned in the bibliography, the technique of loading the antenna with tunable material is particularly interesting because it combines the effects of miniaturization and tunability. The studies in this thesis focus on the integration of La-Ti-O-N and BST thin films in antenna conception for miniaturization and agility in frequency. A study of dielectric properties (permittivity, loss tangent and tunability) of La-Ti-ON thin films was realized. These properties are found to be depending on the structural characteristics of the thin films, which derived from the nature of the substrate and the deposition conditions. In the mean time, another study for the integration of these materials in radiating structures to achieve agility in frequency was carried out. Demonstrations of miniaturized and reconfigurable antennas based on La-Ti-ON and BST thin films were fabricated and characterized.