Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments related to metal-assisted chemical etching of substrates on the micron, sub-micron and nano scales. In one embodiment, among others, a method for metal-assisted chemical etching includes providing a substrate; depositing a non-spherical metal catalyst on a surface of the substrate; etching the substrate by exposing the non-spherical metal catalyst and the substrate to an etchant solution including a composition of a fluoride etchant and an oxidizing agent; and removing the etched substrate from the etchant solution.

Abstract: Modified electrically conductive adhesives and methods of preparing thereof, are disclosed.

Abstract: Polymer composites and methods of making the polymer composites are presented. A representative polymer composite includes a polymer resin and a conductive material, wherein the polymer composite is characterized by a dielectric constant greater the 200. A representative method of making the polymer composite can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing a polymer resin and a conductive material; mixing the polymer resin and the conductive material; and forming the polymer composite, wherein the polymer composite is characterized by a dielectric constant greater than 200.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to polymer-ceramic composites having high dielectric constants formed using polymers containing a metal acetylacetonate (acacs) curing catalyst. In particular, it has been discovered that 5 weight percent Co(II) acac can increase the dielectric constant of DER661 epoxy by about 60%. The high dielectric polymers are combined with fillers, preferably ceramic fillers, to form two phase composites having high dielectric constants. Composites having about 30 to about 90% volume ceramic loading and a high dielectric base polymer, preferably epoxy, have been discovered to have a dielectric constants greater than about 60. Composites having dielectric constants greater than about 74 to about 150 are also disclosed. Also disclosed are embedded capacitors with capacitance densities of at least 25 nF/cm2, preferably at least 35 nF/cm2, most preferably 50 nF/cm2. Methods to increase the dielectric constant of the two phase composites having high dielectric constants are also provided.