New scientists at Novosibirsk State Technical University (NETI) are working on the creation of new polymer composite materials that can be used in the manufacture of electronic components.
According to Vitaly Kuznetsov, the project leader and an Associate Professor of the Department of Semiconductor Devices and Microelectronics, Candidate of Technical Sciences, traditional metals and semiconductors for electronics are not suitable for creating flexible electronic devices because they cannot withstand large deformations (changing the shape and size of electronic components and devices during bending or stretching). Polymer composite materials are promising for these purposes. They are highly flexible, lightweight, and in some cases technologically advanced enough to form finished products from them. In addition, these materials can be modified with various additives that improve their properties.
"We modify polymers in the laboratory. So, by embedding electrically conductive nanoparticles into a dielectric polymer matrix, for example, carbon nanoplastics or carbon nanotubes, we give the material the property of conducting electric current. In addition, this modification of polymers makes it possible to improve their other performance characteristics, such as strength and flexibility," said Vitaly Kuznetsov.
A special feature of the scientists' work is an integrated approach to the development of new polymer composite materials for electronics. In addition to the practical focus on creating new functional materials for sensors in electronics, they also explore the fundamental component in detail. It is important in the production of composite materials to give them the desired morphology (the relative position of nanoparticles inside the polymer matrix) — this is one of the key factors determining what properties the sensor will have at the output.
"We are, in fact, engaged in exploratory scientific work — we are looking for polymer-filler combinations that will be as effective as possible, and we are trying to explain why they are effective. Purposefully sorting through polymer matrices and electrically conductive fillers, we create different modifications of composites and look at how the properties of the material change depending on the matrix-filler combination. Comprehensively analyzing the applied and fundamental properties of the resulting materials is important for a deep understanding of how best to modify the composition in order to obtain certain properties. Thus, we are accumulating a knowledge base so that we can later produce polymer composites for various tasks. For example, if you want the material to have the best strength, take this polymer and this filler," the scientist notes.
According to him, to date, none of the manufacturers have deformation sensors based on polymer composite materials. This development may become one of the first on the market.
The development of approaches for creating new electronic elements based on polymer composite materials is being conducted by Vitaly Kuznetsov and co-authors with the support of a grant from the Russian Science Foundation and the government of the Novosibirsk Region on the basis of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry at the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (INH SB RAS) named after A. V. Nikolayev, one of the main co-executors are employees of the Baikal Institute of Environmental Management SB RAS.
As part of the ongoing work, it is planned to develop and comprehensively study electrically conductive composites that can be used as high-temperature strain gages, operable in the field of advanced and increased deformations, as well as flexible heat-resistant thermoelectric elements, gas sensor elements.