Nesse trabalho foram estudados os compostos intermetalicos do tipo RAg (R = Nd, Gd e Ho) por calculos teoricos desenvolvidos dentro do formalismo da Teoria do Funcional Densidade (DFT). O metodo APW+lo (Augmented Planes Waves + lo- cal orbitals) foi aplicado para resolver a equacao de Kohn-Sham e a Aproximacao do Gradiente Generalizado (GGA) usada para tratar de forma aproximada o potencial de troca-correlacao. O codigo computacional utilizado foi o WIEN2k. As atividades foram focalizadas em duas frentes. Numa delas, determinou-se a fase magnetica do estado fundamental dos compos- tos HoAg e NdAg. Para isso, simulou-se as 4 estruturas magneticas possiveis (para as celulas cristalinas cubicas) desses dois sistemas (uma ferromagnetica (0,0,0) e as antifer-romagneticas: (0,0,¼), (¼,¼,0) e (¼,¼,¼)) e com a confeccao de gra¯cos de energia das celulas cristalinas dessas estruturas magneticas pela variacao dos volumes de tais celulas, chegou-se na estrutura magnetica (¼,¼,0) como a mais provavel para o estado fundamental magnetico de ambos os compostos. Tambem observou-se que o sistema de NdAg apre- senta uma pequena diferenca entre as energias das estruturas antiferromagnetica (¼,¼,0) e ferromagnetica. Creditou-se a esse efeito a explicacao de encontrar-se na literatura re- sultados experimentais diferentes para a estrutura magnetica do composto de NdAg puro e dopado com o atomo de 140Ce (entrando no sitio do Nd). Acredita-se que a dopagem do NdAg com o atomo de 140Ce (em uma porcao reduzida), gera alteracao no sinal da integral de troca (acoplamento RKKY), mudando-o de positivo para negativo, e isso implica na modficacao da fase magnetica do estado fundamental, passando da estrutura (¼,¼,0) µa 0,0,0). Assim, com a informacao anterior da estrutura magnetica do composto de NdAg quando dopado com o atomo de 140Ce, entrou-se na segunda etapa do estudo. Nela, fez-se os calculos das estruturas eletronicas usando a aproximacao de supercelulas nos compostos de GdAg e NdAg dopados com o atomo de Ce, garantindo que esse substituisse um atomo de terra rara nas supercelulas cristalinas montadas para determinar no Ce o campo hiperfino magnetico e suas componentes geradoras. Os compostos de GdAg e NdAg (dopados com Ce), respectivamente, tiveram suas celulas cristalinas montadas ferromagnetica e antiferromagneticamente. Utilizou-se a polarizacao orbital (DFT+U) nos eletrons da camada 4f das terras raras (excluindo-se o atomo de Gd que nao apresenta momento angular). Dessa forma, em ambos os sistemas foi possivel fazer varias simulacoes, nas quais a camada 4f do atomo de Ce foi populada de maneiras diferentes, afim de se obter varios valores de momento angular e com isso diversos resultados de campo hiperfino orbital foram conseguidos; assim, automaticamente o campo magnetico hiperfino tambem assumiu diferentes valores. Escolheu-se os sub-estados da camada 4f do Ce para serem simulados por meio da regra de Hund. Como esperado o campo hiperfino magnetico orbital gerado na camada 4f e a principal componente do campo hiper¯no total no atomo de Ce e ele apresenta sinal contrario µa componente de contato. Apesar dos resultados teoricos do campo hiperfino magnetico terem consideravel discrepancia dos resultados experimentais, pode-se verificar que o unico eletron da camada 4f do atomo de Ce (nos dois compostos) possivelmente esta em um dos seguintes sub-estados da camada 4f: ml = ¡2, ml = ¡1 ou ainda uma combinacao dos dois. / In this work the magnetic hyper¯ne ¯eld acting on Ce atoms substituting the rare-earths in RAg compounds (R = Gd e Nd) was studied by means of ¯rst-principles electronic structure calculations. The employed method was the Augmented Plane Waves plus local orbitals (APW+lo), embodied in the WIEN2k program, within the framework of the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and with the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation potential. The super-cell approach was utilized in order to simulate for the Ce atoms acting as impurities in the RAg matrix. In order to improve for correlation e®ects within the 4f shells, a Hubbard term was added to the DFT hamiltonian, within a procedure called GGA+U. It was found that the magnetic hyper¯ne ¯eld (MHF) generated by the Ce 4f electron is the main component of the total MHF and that the Ce 4f ground state level is probably a combination of the ml = ¡2 and ml = ¡1 sub-levels. In addition, the ground-state magnetic structure was determined for HoAg and NdAg by observing the behavior of the total energy as a function of the lattice volume v for several possible magnetic ordering in these compounds, namelly, ferromagnetic, and the (0,0,¼), (¼,¼,0) and (¼,¼,¼) types of anti-ferromagnetic ordering of rare-earth atoms. It was found that the ground-state magnetic structure is anti-ferromagnetic of type (¼,¼,0) for both, the HoAg and NdAg compounds. The energy di®erence of the ferromag-netic and antiferromagnetic ordering is very small in the case of the NdAg compound.

Nesse trabalho foram estudados os compostos intermetalicos do tipo RAg (R = Nd, Gd e Ho) por calculos teoricos desenvolvidos dentro do formalismo da Teoria do Funcional Densidade (DFT). O metodo APW+lo (Augmented Planes Waves + lo- cal orbitals) foi aplicado para resolver a equacao de Kohn-Sham e a Aproximacao do Gradiente Generalizado (GGA) usada para tratar de forma aproximada o potencial de troca-correlacao. O codigo computacional utilizado foi o WIEN2k. As atividades foram focalizadas em duas frentes. Numa delas, determinou-se a fase magnetica do estado fundamental dos compos- tos HoAg e NdAg. Para isso, simulou-se as 4 estruturas magneticas possiveis (para as celulas cristalinas cubicas) desses dois sistemas (uma ferromagnetica (0,0,0) e as antifer-romagneticas: (0,0,¼), (¼,¼,0) e (¼,¼,¼)) e com a confeccao de gra¯cos de energia das celulas cristalinas dessas estruturas magneticas pela variacao dos volumes de tais celulas, chegou-se na estrutura magnetica (¼,¼,0) como a mais provavel para o estado fundamental magnetico de ambos os compostos. Tambem observou-se que o sistema de NdAg apre- senta uma pequena diferenca entre as energias das estruturas antiferromagnetica (¼,¼,0) e ferromagnetica. Creditou-se a esse efeito a explicacao de encontrar-se na literatura re- sultados experimentais diferentes para a estrutura magnetica do composto de NdAg puro e dopado com o atomo de 140Ce (entrando no sitio do Nd). Acredita-se que a dopagem do NdAg com o atomo de 140Ce (em uma porcao reduzida), gera alteracao no sinal da integral de troca (acoplamento RKKY), mudando-o de positivo para negativo, e isso implica na modficacao da fase magnetica do estado fundamental, passando da estrutura (¼,¼,0) µa 0,0,0). Assim, com a informacao anterior da estrutura magnetica do composto de NdAg quando dopado com o atomo de 140Ce, entrou-se na segunda etapa do estudo. Nela, fez-se os calculos das estruturas eletronicas usando a aproximacao de supercelulas nos compostos de GdAg e NdAg dopados com o atomo de Ce, garantindo que esse substituisse um atomo de terra rara nas supercelulas cristalinas montadas para determinar no Ce o campo hiperfino magnetico e suas componentes geradoras. Os compostos de GdAg e NdAg (dopados com Ce), respectivamente, tiveram suas celulas cristalinas montadas ferromagnetica e antiferromagneticamente. Utilizou-se a polarizacao orbital (DFT+U) nos eletrons da camada 4f das terras raras (excluindo-se o atomo de Gd que nao apresenta momento angular). Dessa forma, em ambos os sistemas foi possivel fazer varias simulacoes, nas quais a camada 4f do atomo de Ce foi populada de maneiras diferentes, afim de se obter varios valores de momento angular e com isso diversos resultados de campo hiperfino orbital foram conseguidos; assim, automaticamente o campo magnetico hiperfino tambem assumiu diferentes valores. Escolheu-se os sub-estados da camada 4f do Ce para serem simulados por meio da regra de Hund. Como esperado o campo hiperfino magnetico orbital gerado na camada 4f e a principal componente do campo hiper¯no total no atomo de Ce e ele apresenta sinal contrario µa componente de contato. Apesar dos resultados teoricos do campo hiperfino magnetico terem consideravel discrepancia dos resultados experimentais, pode-se verificar que o unico eletron da camada 4f do atomo de Ce (nos dois compostos) possivelmente esta em um dos seguintes sub-estados da camada 4f: ml = ¡2, ml = ¡1 ou ainda uma combinacao dos dois. / In this work the magnetic hyper¯ne ¯eld acting on Ce atoms substituting the rare-earths in RAg compounds (R = Gd e Nd) was studied by means of ¯rst-principles electronic structure calculations. The employed method was the Augmented Plane Waves plus local orbitals (APW+lo), embodied in the WIEN2k program, within the framework of the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and with the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation potential. The super-cell approach was utilized in order to simulate for the Ce atoms acting as impurities in the RAg matrix. In order to improve for correlation e®ects within the 4f shells, a Hubbard term was added to the DFT hamiltonian, within a procedure called GGA+U. It was found that the magnetic hyper¯ne ¯eld (MHF) generated by the Ce 4f electron is the main component of the total MHF and that the Ce 4f ground state level is probably a combination of the ml = ¡2 and ml = ¡1 sub-levels. In addition, the ground-state magnetic structure was determined for HoAg and NdAg by observing the behavior of the total energy as a function of the lattice volume v for several possible magnetic ordering in these compounds, namelly, ferromagnetic, and the (0,0,¼), (¼,¼,0) and (¼,¼,¼) types of anti-ferromagnetic ordering of rare-earth atoms. It was found that the ground-state magnetic structure is anti-ferromagnetic of type (¼,¼,0) for both, the HoAg and NdAg compounds. The energy di®erence of the ferromag-netic and antiferromagnetic ordering is very small in the case of the NdAg compound.

FePt/B4C multilayer thin films are deposited on silicon substrates using magnetron sputtering with different B4C layer thickness. Experimental results suggest that the B4C layers effectively serve as spacers to separate the FePt layers, making the multilayer configuration stable even after film annealing at elevated temperatures. On the other hand, B and C are found to be incorporated into the FePt layer, which is responsible for the FePt grain growth confinement and grain separation, and eventually affects the properties of the composite film. Based on the experimental results of multilayer composite film, particle (FePt)/matrix (B4C) monolayer composite thin films on Si substrate are synthesized, in which a record coercivity of 2200 Oe is achieved compared to similar system. The size uniformity of the FePt nanoparticles, the well-defined particle-particle separation, together with the good magnetic property and high temperature thermal stability of the overall composite film, make it a very promising candidate for the ultrahigh density magnetic storage media. / Functional nanostructures serve as the basic building blocks for nanodevices and significant efforts have been devoted to their morphology control and properties optimization. In present study, four functional nanostructures, i.e., FePt/B4C multilayer composite film, particle (FePt)/matrix (B4C) monolayer composite film, Ga-doped ZnO nanowire arrays, and CdSe nanotube arrays are designed, synthesized and characterized in detail, in which the first two are expected to be prominent candidates for ultrahigh-density magnetic storage media while the later two have potential applications in solar energy conversion. / Semiconductor based one-dimensional nanostructures are investigated as promising building blocks for solar energy conversion devices. Two aspects are explored, aiming at increasing the energy conversion efficiency, i.e., facilitating electron transport and enhancing photon absorbing. In the first case, large area Ga-doped ZnO nanowire arrays are grown on transparent conducting substrate. Experimental results reveal the well-aligned array morphology and the uniform Ga concentration in these nanowires. In particular, direct I-V measurements performed on single nanowire-on-ITO substrate disclose its Ohmic contact with the conducting substrate and the significant conductivity improvement compared to undoped ZnO nanowire, In the second case, a novel synthesis strategy for nanotube arrays is developed and CdSe is used for demonstration, which material possessing more appropriate band gap as effective light harvester compared to that of materials for existing semiconductor nanotube arrays. The controllable tube wall thickness that can be increased until continuous CdSe porous network is obtained. The experimental results suggest a nanotube array formation mechanism that can be generally applied to a wide range of materials. / Zhou, Minjie = 功能纳米结构在磁性和能源方面的应用 / 周民杰. / 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 91-100). / 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. / Zhou, Minjie = Gong neng na mi jie gou zai ci xing he neng yuan fang mian de ying yong / Zhou Minjie.

In the beginning of the twenty-first century, educational and commercial institutions have driven the demand for cheap and efficient data storage. The storage medium known as magnetic recording media has remained the mainstay for most computer systems due to its large storage capacity per dollar. With the recording media's ever-increasing storage density has come reductions in the magnetic grain size per bit. At the recording bit's density threshold, the magnetic grains become more susceptible to thermal activation, which can render the storage medium unusable. An accurate characterisation of the recording layer's sub-granular structure is essential for understanding the magnetic and thermal mechanisms of high-density recording media. Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) studies have been performed to investigate the magnetic and physical properties of longitudinal and perpendicular recording grains. The SANS studies of longitudinal magnetic recording media have probed the recording layer's magnetic grain size at a sub-nanometer resolution. In conjunction with these studies, SQUID magnetometry was used to characterise the recording grain's bulk magnetism. Measurements showed that the recording grain was composed of a ferromagnetic hard core (Co-enriched) and a weakly magnetic shell (Cr-enriched). These results provided important information on the grain's magnetic anisotropy, which determines the recording media's magnetic stability. The polarised SANS studies were used to characterise the recording layer's physical granular structure. It was shown that the physical grain size was comparable to its magnetic counterpart. These physical measurements provided insight into the recording grain's chemical composition. The magnetic properties of perpendicular magnetic recording media were studied using SANS and VSM measurements. The neutron scattering studies revealed that the recording grain was composed of a hard ferromagnetic centre enriched with cobalt. The VSM studies showed that the magnetic recording grains exhibited a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. These combined studies provided information on the recording grain's ferromagnetic composition and magnetic stability. The polarised SANS measurements showed the physical grain size to be slightly smaller than its magnetic counterpart. This size difference was attributed to the non-magnetic grain boundary composed of SiO2. The boundary thickness determined the degree of inter-granular exchange coupling. Further polarised studies investigated the recording layers switching behaviour, which revealed more information on the grain's magnetic stability.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:07:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaPPF_DISSERT.pdf: 3895025 bytes, checksum: 139d5ed551d6922e5b7f6e67a16602fd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-06 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / Polymer matrix composites offer advantages for many applications due their combination of properties, which includes low density, high specific strength and modulus of elasticity and corrosion resistance. However, the application of non-destructive techniques using magnetic sensors for the evaluation these materials is not possible since the materials are non-magnetizable. Ferrites are materials with excellent magnetic properties, chemical stability and corrosion resistance. Due to these properties, these materials are promising for the development of polymer composites with magnetic properties. In this work, glass fiber / epoxy circular plates were produced with 10 wt% of cobalt or barium ferrite particles. The cobalt ferrite was synthesized by the Pechini method. The commercial barium ferrite was subjected to a milling process to study the effect of particle size on the magnetic properties of the material. The characterization of the ferrites was carried out by x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Circular notches of 1, 5 and 10 mm diameter were introduced in the composite plates using a drill bit for the non-destructive evaluation by the technique of magnetic flux leakage (MFL). The results indicated that the magnetic signals measured in plates with barium ferrite without milling and cobalt ferrite showed good correlation with the presence of notches. The milling process for 12 h and 20 h did not contribute to improve the identification of smaller size notches (1 mm). However, the smaller particle size produced smoother magnetic curves, with fewer discontinuities and improved signal-to-noise ratio. In summary, the results suggest that the proposed approach has great potential for the detection of damage in polymer composites structures / Materiais comp?sitos polim?ricos oferecem vantagens para v?rias aplica??es pela combina??o de propriedades como baixa densidade, elevada resist?ncia mec?nica e m?dulo de elasticidade espec?ficos e resist?ncia a corros?o. Entretanto, por n?o serem magnetiz?veis, esses materiais n?o permitem a utiliza??o de t?cnicas de avalia??o n?o destrutivas que utilizem sensores magn?ticos. Ferritas s?o materiais com excelentes propriedades magn?ticas, estabilidade qu?mica e resist?ncia ? corros?o. Devido a essas propriedades esses materiais s?o promissores para o desenvolvimento de comp?sitos de matriz polim?rica com propriedades magn?ticas. Neste trabalho, discos de comp?sitos de fibra de vidro/ep?xi foram produzidos com adi??o de 10% em massa de part?culas de ferrita de cobalto ou de b?rio. A ferrita de cobalto foi sintetizada pelo m?todo Pechini. A ferrita comercial de b?rio foi submetida a um processo de moagem para se estudar o efeito do tamanho de part?cula nas propriedades magn?ticas do material. A caracteriza??o das ferritas foi realizada pelas t?cnicas de difra??o de raio x (DRX), microscopia eletr?nica de varredura (MEV-FEG) e magnetometria de amostra vibrante (MAV). Entalhes circulares com di?metros de 1, 5 e 10 mm foram introduzidos nos discos de comp?sitos com o aux?lio de uma broca para avalia??o n?o-destrutiva por meio da t?cnica de fuga de fluxo magn?tico (MFL). A abordagem apresentada permitiu identificar todos os entalhes introduzidos nos discos. Os resultados indicaram que os sinais magn?ticos medidos nos discos com a ferrita de b?rio sem moagem e de cobalto apresentaram boa correla??o com a presen?a dos entalhes. O processo de moagem por 12 h e 20 h n?o contribuiu para a melhor identifica??o de entalhes de menor dimens?o (1 mm). Entretanto, o menor tamanho de part?cula permitiu produzir curvas magn?ticas mais suaves, com menos descontinuidades e melhor rela??o sinal-ru?do. Em resumo, os resultados sugerem que a abordagem proposta tem grande potencial para a detec??o de falhas em estruturas de materiais comp?sitos polim?ricos

Particle dispersions provide a promising tool for the engineering of functional materials that exploit self-assembly of complex structures. Dispersion made from magnetic colloidal particles is a great choice; they are biocompatible and remotely controllable among many other advantages. However, their dominating dipolar interaction typically limits structural complexity to linear arrangements. This paper shows how a magnetostatic equilibrium state with noncollinear arrangement of the magnetic moments, as reported for ferromagnetic Janus particles, enables the controlled self-organization of diverse structures in two dimensions via constant and low-frequency external magnetic fields. Branched clusters of staggered chains, compact clusters, linear chains, and dispersed single particles can be formed and interconverted reversibly in a controlled way. The structural diversity is a consequence of both the inhomogeneity and the spatial extension of the magnetization distribution inside the particles. We draw this conclusion from calculations based on a model of spheres with multiple shifted dipoles. The results demonstrate that fundamentally new possibilities for responsive magnetic materials can arise from interactions between particles with a spatially extended, anisotropic magnetization distribution.

The ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, Fe7Pd3, not only offers promising applications, but also reveals a number of unresolved scientific questions, including coupling between a series of martensite and order–disorder transitions, which are in the focus of the present study. To address and understand these aspects, which are of particular importance for controlling phase stability in Fe7Pd3, an ab initio based Monte Carlo simulation code is developed, whose results demonstrate that equilibrated ordered or disordered phases show distinct dependencies coupled to temperature and lattice structure. Moreover, in equiatomic domains emerging from initially randomized disorder, an intermediate, entropy stabilized phase is identified with significantly higher magnetic anisotropy energy, being advantageous for miniaturized applications. This phase, among other observed configurations, is comprehensively characterized by free energy landscapes and magneto-structural coupling derived from vibrational analysis of molecular dynamics trajectories and full relativistic spin polarized density functional theory ground state calculations, respectively.

Systems of interacting colloidal particles are ideal tools for studies of pattern formation and collective non-equilibrium dynamics on the mesoscopic scale. These processes are governed by the interaction between the particles, which can be tuned by sophisticated fabrication. In this thesis, self-assembly of artificially designed magnetic spheres dispersed in water has been studied via video microscopy. The particles are based on silica microspheres with hemispherical ferromagnetic coating of [Co/Pd] multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. These particles are exceptional in that they exhibit an off-centered net magnetic moment and yet obey rotational and mirror symmetry. It has been demonstrated how these magnetic properties provide innovative flexibility in pattern formation and collective dynamics based on magnetostatic interactions on the mesoscopic scale. The results are supported by analytical and numerical calculations of interacting spheres with radially shifted point dipoles (sd-particles). In two dimensions, the particles spontaneously self-assemble into branched structures as a result of a bistable assembly behavior where neighboring particles exhibit a non-collinear magnetic orientation. It has been shown that these features, which are atypical for homogeneous systems of magnetic particles, can be reproduced by simulation. It employs a theoretical model of a sphere that contains a distribution of three radially shifted point dipoles in analogy to the magnetization distribution in the coated particles. The stability of the assembly has been examined further by external manipulation using optical tweezers and homogeneous magnetic fields. A rich variety of stable structures with diverse spatial and magnetic ordering has been found. Particularly, the collective alignment of the specially designed particles in external fields opens completely new possibilities for the remote control over reversible pattern formation on the micrometer scale. In time-dependent fields, the collective dynamics of the anisotropic particles has revealed a novel approach for magnetically actuated translation. The variety of stable structures particularly enables control over this motion. / Kolloidale Suspensionen sind geeignete Systeme zur Untersuchung von Strukturbildung und kollektiver Nichtgleichgewichtsdynamik in mesoskopischen Größenskalen. Diese Vorgänge werden durch die Wechselwirkung zwischen den Teilchen bestimmt, welche durch geeignete Partikelherstellung angepasst werden kann. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein System von künstlich hergestellten magnetischen Partikelsuspensionen mittels Videomikroskopie untersucht. Quarzglas-Mikrokugeln wurden halbseitig mit einer ferromagnetischen Dünnschicht aus [Co/Pd] Multilagen mit senkrechter Anisotropie beschichtet. Solche Partikel sind ausgezeichnet durch ein resultierendes magnetisches Moment mit Rotations- und Spiegelsymmterie, welches zusätzlich vom Mittelpunkt der Kugel verschoben ist. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, dass diese Besonderheit zu einer bisher unbekannten Flexibilität bei der mesoskopischen Strukturbildung und der kollektiven Dynamik auf der Basis magnetostatischer Wechselwirkung führt. Die vorgestellten Ergebnisse werden durch analytische und numerische Berechnungen unterstützt, denen ein Modell einer idealen Kugel mit verschobenem Dipol zugrunde liegt. Die zweidimensionale Selbstanordnung der Partikel zeigt experimentell zwei stabile Formen der Verknüpfung, welche zu verzweigten Strukturen mit unterschiedlich magnetischer Ausrichtung benachbarter Partikel führen. Diese für ein homogenenes System magnetischer Partikel außergewöhnlichen Eigenschaften konnten in Simulationen durch ein Modellsystem aus Kugeln mit drei verschobenen Punktdipolen reproduziert werden. Darüber hinaus wurde die spontante Anordnung unter externer Manipulation mittels optischer Pinzette und magnetischen Feldern untersucht. Es konnte eine Vielfalt an stabilen Strukturen mit verschiedenen magnetischen und strukturellen Anordnungen gefunden werden. Insbesondere die kollektive Ausrichtung dieser Partikel in externen Feldern eröffnet neuartige Möglichkeiten, kontrolliert und reversibel Mikrostrukturen zu erzeugen. In zeitabhängigen Feldern zeigen die anisotropen Partikel zusätzlich eine kollektive Dynamik welche eine neue Möglichkeit zum magnetischen Antrieb von Partikelagglomeraten eröffnet. Die Vielfalt der möglichen stabilen Strukturen erlaubt es in besonderer Weise diese Bewegung zu steuern.

In this work, stretchable magnetic sensorics is successfully established by combining metallic thin films revealing a giant magnetoresistance effect with elastomeric materials. Stretchability of the magnetic nanomembranes is achieved by specific morphologic features (e.g. wrinkles), which accommodate the applied tensile deformation while maintaining the electrical and magnetic integrity of the sensor device. The entire development, from the demonstration of the world-wide first elastically stretchable magnetic sensor to the realization of a technology platform for robust, ready-to-use elastic magnetoelectronics with fully strain invariant properties, is described. The prepared soft giant magnetoresistive devices exhibit the same sensing performance as on conventional rigid supports, but can be stretched uniaxially or biaxially reaching strains of up to 270% and endure over 1,000 stretching cycles without fatigue. The comprehensive magnetoelectrical characterization upon tensile deformation is correlated with in-depth structural investigations of the sensor morphology transitions during stretching. With their unique mechanical properties, the elastic magnetoresistive sensor elements readily conform to ubiquitous objects of arbitrary shapes including the human skin. This feature leads electronic skin systems beyond imitating the characteristics of its natural archetype and extends their cognition to static and dynamic magnetic fields that by no means can be perceived by human beings naturally. Various application fields of stretchable magnetoelectronics are proposed and realized throughout this work. The developed sensor platform can equip soft electronic systems with navigation, orientation, motion tracking and touchless control capabilities. A variety of novel technologies, like smart textiles, soft robotics and actuators, active medical implants and soft consumer electronics will benefit from these new magnetic functionalities.:Outline List of abbreviations 7 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Motivation and scope of this work 8 1.1.1 A brief review on stretchable electronics 8 1.1.2 Stretchable magnetic sensorics 10 1.2 Technological approach 11 1.3 State-of-the-art 12 2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 2.1 Magnetic coupling phenomena in layered structures 14 2.1.1 Magnetic interlayer exchange coupling 14 2.1.2 Exchange bias 15 2.1.3 Orange peel coupling 16 2.2 Giant magnetoresistance 17 2.2.1 Electronic transport through ferromagnets 17 2.2.2 The GMR effect 19 2.2.3 GMR multilayers 20 2.2.4 Spin valves 21 2.3 Theory of elasticity 22 2.3.1 Elastomeric materials 22 2.3.2 Stress and strain 23 2.3.3 Rubber elasticity 25 2.3.4 The Poisson effect 26 2.3.5 Viscoelasticity 27 2.3.6 Bending strain in a stiff film on a flexible support 27 2.4 Approaches to stretchable electronic systems 28 2.4.1 Microcrack formation 28 2.4.2 Meanders and compliant patterns 29 2.4.3 Surface wrinkling 30 2.4.4 Rigid islands 32 3. METHODS & MATERIALS 3.1 Sample fabrication 34 3.1.1 Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) 34 3.1.2 PDMS film preparation 35 3.1.3 Lithographic structuring on the PDMS surface. 36 3.1.4 Magnetic thin film deposition 38 3.1.5 GMR layer stacks 40 3.1.6 Mechanically induced pre-strain 43 3.1.7 Methods and materials for the direct transfer of GMR sensors 45 3.1.8 Materials used for imperceptible GMR sensors 47 3.2 Characterization 48 3.2.1 GMR characterization setup with in situ stretching capability 48 3.2.2 Sample mounting 50 3.2.3 Electrical contacting of stretchable sensor devices 51 3.2.4 Customized demonstrator electronics 52 3.2.5 Microscopic investigation techniques 53 4. RESULTS & DISCUSSION 4.1 GMR multilayer structures on PDMS 54 4.1.1 Pre-characterization 54 4.1.2 Thermally induced wrinkling 55 4.1.3 Self-healing effect 57 4.1.4 Demonstrator: Magnetic detection on a curved surface 60 4.1.5 Sensitivity enhancement 61 4.1.6 GMR sensors in circumferential geometry 64 4.1.7 Stretchability test 67 4.2 Stretchable spin valves 69 4.2.1 Random wrinkles and periodic fracture 70 4.2.2 GMR characterization 73 4.2.3 Stretching of spin valves 74 4.2.4 Microcrack formation mechanism 76 4.3 Direct transfer printing of GMR sensorics 81 4.3.1 The direct transfer printing process 82 4.3.2 Direct transfer of GMR microsensor arrays 84 4.3.3 Direct transfer of compliant meander shaped GMR sensors 86 4.4 Imperceptible magnetoelectronics 89 4.4.1 GMR multilayers on ultra-thin PET membranes 89 4.4.2 Imperceptible GMR sensor skin 92 4.4.3 Demonstrator: Fingertip magnetic proximity sensor 93 4.4.4 Ultra-stretchable GMR sensors 94 4.4.5 Biaxial stretchability 99 4.4.6 Demonstrator: Dynamic detection of diaphragm inflation 101 5. CONCLUSIONS & OUTLOOK 5.1 Achievements 102 5.2 Outlook 104 5.2.1 Further development steps 104 5.2.2 Prospective applications. 105 5.3 Technological impact: flexible Bi Hall sensorics 106 5.3.1 Application potential 106 5.3.2 Thin and flexible Hall probes 107 5.3.3 Continuative works and improvements 108 5.4 Activities on technology transfer and public relations 108 Appendix References 110 Selbständigkeitserklärung 119 Acknowledgements 120 Curriculum Vitae 121 Scientific publications, contributions, patents, grants & prizes 122