STUDY OF PHASED ARRAYS OF SLOTTED WAVEGUIDE ANTENNAS WITH DIELECTRIC FILLING

The article describes the computer simulation of phased antenna arrays consisting of slotted waveguide antennas with air and dielectric filling. It is shown that inser-tion of a thin dielectric layer shifts the operating frequency range of phased anten-na arrays by 1 GHz or more down in frequency while maintaining directional char-acteristics.

Artificially induced normal ferroelectric behaviour in aerosol deposited relaxor 65PMN–35PT thick films by interface engineering

A thin dielectric layer of Al2O3 was grown by atomic layer deposition on a relaxor ferroelectric 65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–35PbTiO3 (PMN–PT)/Pt/Si thick film fabricated by the aerosol deposition technique to artificially induce ferroelectric behaviour.

Polarizing and depolarizing charge injection through a thin dielectric layer in a ferroelectric-dielectric bilayer

Charge injection from the near-by-electrode can occur during ferroelectric switching in the ferroelectric-dielectric bilayer due to the high field applied to the adjacent dielectric layers. The aim of this study...

Slotted ridged waveguide antennas with partial dielectric filling

Slotted single-ridge waveguide antenna with dielectric filling has been simulated. Dielectric material has been used to fill the slots, and to form a thin layer directly under the slotted broad wall. The specific pairs of ridge dimensions have been found that provide the same cut-off frequency for an air-filled ridged waveguide as it is for a broader air-filled rectangular waveguide. It has been shown that waveguide ridging followed by insertion of a thin dielectric layer under the slotted wall shift consecutively the antenna operating band down to lower frequencies. The specific values of thickness and permittivity of the dielectric layer suitable for frequency shifting have been found. The simulated characteristics of a 20-element dielectrically filled slotted single-ridge waveguide antenna have been presented. Resultantly, the efficient method of shifting the operating interval of a slotted-waveguide antenna down to lower frequencies has been proposed. The method does not require a broader waveguide, and therefore is effective with respect to low frequency – mass/dimension trade-off.

Affordable Fabrication of Conductive Electrodes and Dielectric Films for a Paper-based Digital Microfluidic Chip

In order to fabricate a digital microfluidic (DMF) chip, which requires a patterned array of electrodes coated with a dielectric film, we explored two simple methods: Ballpoint pen printing to generate the electrodes, and wrapping of a dielectric plastic film to coat the electrodes. For precise and programmable printing of the patterned electrodes, we used a digital plotter with a ballpoint pen filled with a silver nanoparticle (AgNP) ink. Instead of using conventional material deposition methods, such as chemical vapor deposition, printing, and spin coating, for fabricating the thin dielectric layer, we used a simple method in which we prepared a thin dielectric layer using pre-made linear, low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) plastic (17-μm thick) by simple wrapping. We then sealed it tightly with thin silicone oil layers so that it could be used as a DMF chip. Such a treated dielectric layer showed good electrowetting performance for a sessile drop without contact angle hysteresis under an applied voltage of less than 170 V. By using this straightforward fabrication method, we quickly and affordably fabricated a paper-based DMF chip and demonstrated the digital electrofluidic actuation and manipulation of drops.