Abstract: An EB-PVD technique was used to fabricate ceramic/polymer/ceramic (LAGP/PE/LAGP) hybrid separator for rechargeable LIBs and Li batteries. The application of a ceramic electrolyte (LAGP) layer on traditional PE separator soaked in 1-M LiAsF6 liquid electrolyte combined the best attributes of traditional PE separator and solid inorganic electrolytes. The synergistic behavior of hybrid separator resulted in a high mechanical stability/flexibility, increased liquid uptake, high ion conduction, reduced cell voltage polarization, no lithium dendrite formation, and increased usable lithium content as compared to the state-of-the-art PE separator used in LIBs. The functional separator can be used to prolong life cycle and power capability of present LIBs. Thickness and density optimization of LAGP or similar electrolytes on polymer or other battery separators and their use in full Li battery (LIB, Li—S, Li—O2, Li-Ph, flow battery) cells are expected to further improve performance.

Abstract: An EB-PVD technique was used to fabricate ceramic/polymer/ceramic (LAGP/PE/LAGP) hybrid separator for rechargeable LIBs and Li batteries. The application of a ceramic electrolyte (LAGP) layer on traditional PE separator soaked in 1-M LiAsF6 liquid electrolyte combined the best attributes of traditional PE separator and solid inorganic electrolytes. The synergistic behavior of hybrid separator resulted in a high mechanical stability/flexibility, increased liquid uptake, high ion conduction, reduced cell voltage polarization, no lithium dendrite formation, and increased usable lithium content as compared to the state-of-the-art PE separator used in LIBs. The functional separator can be used to prolong life cycle and power capability of present LIBs. Thickness and density optimization of LAGP or similar electrolytes on polymer or other battery separators and their use in full Li battery (LIB, Li—S, Li—O2, Li—Ph, flow battery) cells are expected to further improve performance.

Abstract: A system is provided for interfacing a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system with engine sensors and actuators using miniaturized Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) substrates operating as smart notes that communicate digitally over a data bus to a miniaturized LTCC operating as a data concentrator. The use of smart nodes and/or data concentrators assembled on LTCC substrates provides enhanced thermal and vibration performance along with resistance to hydration, improved reliability and reduced overall size of the circuitry unit.

Abstract: An EB-PVD technique was used to fabricate ceramic/polymer/ceramic (LAGP/PE/LAGP) hybrid separator for rechargeable LIBs and Li batteries. The application of a ceramic electrolyte (LAGP) layer on traditional PE separator soaked in 1-M LiAsF6 liquid electrolyte combined the best attributes of traditional PE separator and solid inorganic electrolytes. The synergistic behavior of hybrid separator resulted in a high mechanical stability/flexibility, increased liquid uptake, high ion conduction, reduced cell voltage polarization, no lithium dendrite formation, and increased usable lithium content as compared to the state-of-the-art PE separator used in LIB s. The functional separator can be used to prolong life cycle and power capability of present LIBs. Thickness and density optimization of LAGP or similar electrolytes on polymer or other battery separators and their use in full Li battery (LIB, Li—S, Li—O2, Li-Ph, flow battery) cells are expected to further improve performance.

Abstract: Lithium sulfur batteries are described, especially ones that are flexible for wearing about an appendage of a wearer. Such batteries have a lithium metal anode, a sulfur cathode comprising sulfur, a conductive carbon, a lithium supertonic solid-state conductor, and a dendritic or hyperbranched polymer binder, an electrolyte layer between the lithium metal anode and the sulfur cathode, and a current collector positioned on the sulfur cathode opposite the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A system is provided for interfacing a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system with engine sensors and actuators using miniaturized Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) substrates operating as smart notes that communicate digitally over a data bus to a miniaturized LTCC operating as a data concentrator. The use of smart nodes and/or data concentrators assembled on LTCC substrates provides enhanced thermal and vibration performance along with resistance to hydration, improved reliability and reduced overall size of the circuitry unit.

Abstract: Lithium sulfur batteries are described, especially ones that are flexible for wearing about an appendage of a wearer. Such batteries have a lithium metal anode, a sulfur cathode comprising sulfur, a conductive carbon, a lithium supertonic solid-state conductor, and a dendritic or hyperbranched polymer binder, an electrolyte layer between the lithium metal anode and the sulfur cathode, and a current collector positioned on the sulfur cathode opposite the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery includes a lithium anode, a cathode, and a separator interposed between the lithium anode and the cathode. The separator includes a porous polymer soaked with a liquid electrolyte. The lithium battery further includes an artificial solid electrolyte interphase membrane interposed between the lithium anode and the separator. The artificial solid electrolyte interphase membrane may be a composite of a carbonaceous material, a high shear modulus conducting polymer, and a conductive additive.

Abstract: An EB-PVD technique was used to fabricate ceramic/polymer/ceramic (LAGP/PE/LAGP) hybrid separator for rechargeable LIBs and Li batteries. The application of a ceramic electrolyte (LAGP) layer on traditional PE separator soaked in 1-M LiAsF6 liquid electrolyte combined the best attributes of traditional PE separator and solid inorganic electrolytes. The synergistic behavior of hybrid separator resulted in a high mechanical stability/flexibility, increased liquid uptake, high ion conduction, reduced cell voltage polarization, no lithium dendrite formation, and increased usable lithium content as compared to the state-of-the-art PE separator used in LIBs. The functional separator can be used to prolong life cycle and power capability of present LIBs. Thickness and density optimization of LAGP or similar electrolytes on polymer or other battery separators and their use in full Li battery (LIB, Li—S, Li—O2, Li-Ph, flow battery) cells are expected to further improve performance.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery includes a lithium anode, a cathode, and a separator interposed between the lithium anode and the cathode. The separator includes a porous polymer soaked with a liquid electrolyte. The lithium battery further includes an artificial solid electrolyte interphase membrane interposed between the lithium anode and the separator. The artificial solid electrolyte interphase membrane may be a composite of a carbonaceous material, a high shear modulus conducting polymer, and a conductive additive.

Abstract: A parallel capacitor varactor shunt switch device may include a shunt layer, a coplanar waveguide (CPW) layer, and a tunable thin film dielectric layer that is interposed between the shunt layer and the CPW layer. The tunable thin film dielectric layer electrically isolates the shunt layer from the CPW layer. The shunt layer includes a plurality of parallel shunt lines. The CPW layer includes a CPW signal transmission line with two CPW ground lines parallel to the CPW signal transmission line. A plurality of varactor areas equal in number to the plurality of parallel shunt lines are defined in the CPW signal transmission line, each varactor area corresponding to an overlap of the CPW signal transmission line with a respective shunt line and each respective parallel shunt line and its corresponding varactor area defines a capacitor.

Abstract: A coplanar waveguide (CPW) square-ring slot antenna for use in wireless communication systems is miniaturized and reconfigurable by the integration of ferroelectric (FE) BST (barium strontium titanate) thin film varactors therein. The slot antenna device includes a sapphire substrate, top and bottom metal layers, and a thin ferroelectric BST film layer, where the FE BST varactors are integrated at the back edge of the antenna on the top metal layer.

Abstract: A high voltage varactor that provides a large tuning ratio and a high DC biasing capability includes a non-coplanar interdigitated structure having a stacked structure with a plurality of substantially parallel coplanar first electrode fingers and a plurality of substantially parallel coplanar second electrode fingers. The plurality of substantially parallel coplanar second electrode fingers are interdigitated with the plurality of substantially parallel coplanar first electrode fingers and are not coplanar with the plurality of substantially parallel coplanar first electrode fingers. A voltage tunable dielectric layer may be interposed between the plurality of substantially parallel coplanar first electrode fingers and the plurality of substantially parallel coplanar second electrode fingers. The voltage tunable dielectric layer may be a BST layer, or any other voltage tunable dielectric layer.

Abstract: A parallel capacitor varactor shunt switch device may include a shunt layer, a coplanar waveguide (CPW) layer, and a tunable thin film dielectric layer that is interposed between the shunt layer and the CPW layer. The tunable thin film dielectric layer electrically isolates the shunt layer from the CPW layer. The shunt layer includes a plurality of parallel shunt lines. The CPW layer includes a CPW signal transmission line with two CPW ground lines parallel to the CPW signal transmission line. A plurality of varactor areas equal in number to the plurality of parallel shunt lines are defined in the CPW signal transmission line, each varactor area corresponding to an overlap of the CPW signal transmission line with a respective shunt line and each respective parallel shunt line and its corresponding varactor area defines a capacitor.

Abstract: A coplanar waveguide (CPW) square-ring slot antenna for use in wireless communication systems is miniaturized and reconfigurable by the integration of ferroelectric (FE) BST (barium strontium titanate) thin film varactors therein. The slot antenna device includes a sapphire substrate, top and bottom metal layers, and a thin ferroelectric BST film layer, where the FE BST varactors are integrated at the back edge of the antenna on the top metal layer.

Abstract: A test structure for polymer characterization over a wide frequency range, temperature range and under an applied DC electric field is disclosed. A high resistivity silicon substrate is topped by an adhesion layer. A polymer thin-film is deposited on a patterned metal1 layer which is deposited on top of the adhesion layer. A top metal2 layer is deposited on the polymer thin-film and patterned to form a CPW transmission line. A single bias voltage is applied to the center conductor of the CPW transmission line on metal2 and influences dielectric properties of the polymer. The dielectric permittivity and the loss-tangent of the polymer can be derived as functions of electric field and temperature by measuring the swept frequency scattering parameters and matching the experimental frequency response to the modeled frequency response. The electrical conductance properties of the polymer can be accurately characterized using the test structure over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: A resonant sensor for detecting a specific environmental analyte is presented. The resonant sensor comprises a top conductive layer of two ground conductors and a center signal line, a bottom conductive layer of two ground lines shunted together by a shunt line and a sensing layer positioned between the top conductive layer and the bottom conductive layer. A capacitor is created by the overlap of the center signal line of the top conductive layer and the shunt line of the bottom conductive layer. Electrical properties of the sensing layer change in response to binding the specific environmental analyte with the sensing layer. The sensing layer can be an electro-optic polymer. Nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes can be dispersed within the sensing layer to bind with the specific environmental analyte. An integrated antenna can be incorporated into to sensor to receive radio frequencies for wireless, passive sensing.

Abstract: A ferroelectric varactor suitable for capacitive shunt switching is disclosed. High resistivity silicon with a SiO2 layer and a patterned metallic layer deposited on top is used as the substrate. A ferroelectric thin-film layer deposited on the substrate is used for the implementation of the varactor. A top metal electrode is deposited on the ferroelectric thin-film layer forming a CPW transmission line. By using the capacitance formed by the large area ground conductors in the top metal electrode and bottom metallic layer, a series connection of the ferroelectric varactor with the large capacitor defined by the ground conductors is created. The large capacitor acts as a short to ground, eliminating the need for vias. The varactor shunt switches can be used to create a bandpass filter and a tunable notch filter. The bandpass filter is implemented by cascading the switches, and the bandpass filter implemented through the use of a resonance circuit.

Abstract: Varactor shunt switches based on a nonlinear dielectric tunability of BaxSr(1?x)TiO3 (BST) thin-film on a sapphire substrates are presented. Nanostructured BST thin-films with dielectric tunability as high as 4.3:1 can be obtained on sapphire substrates, with very low loss-tangents below 0.025 at zero-bias and 20 GHz. The large capacitance of the varactor at zero bias can shunt the input signal to ground isolating the output port, resulting in the OFF state. When applying a bias voltage of approximately 10 V (a dc electric field of ˜250 kV/cm), the varactor's capacitance can be reduced to a minimum, allowing maximum transmission to the output resulting in the ON state. The microwave switching performance of the varactor shunt switch can be compared with the RF MEMS switches for potential applications at microwave and millimeterwave frequencies.

Abstract: A ferroelectric varactor suitable for capacitive shunt switching is disclosed. High resistivity silicon with a SiO2 layer and a patterned metallic layer deposited on top is used as the substrate. A ferroelectric thin-film layer deposited on the substrate is used for the implementation of the varactor. A top metal electrode is deposited on the ferroelectric thin-film layer forming a CPW transmission line. By using the capacitance formed by the large area ground conductors in the top metal electrode and bottom metallic layer, a series connection of the ferroelectric varactor with the large capacitor defined by the ground conductors is created. The large capacitor acts as a short to ground, eliminating the need for vias. The concept of switching ON and OFF state is based on the dielectric tunability of the ferroelectric thin-films. At 0 V, the varactor has the highest capacitance value, resulting in the signal to be shunted to ground, thus isolating the output from the input.