Optically controlled GeTe phase change switch and its applications in reconfigurable antenna arrays

Chau, Loc; Ho, Jia Chong; Lan, Xiao; Altvater, Gregor; Young, Robert M.; El-Hinnawy, Nabil; Nichols, D.; Volakis, John L.; Ghalichechian, Nima

doi:10.1117/12.2179852

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…If DW is to impact RF circuits, then switches will need to be developed, such as MEMS or phase change materials that can act as reconfigurable electronics for phased array applications [125,126]. Moreover, some new works are coming out on printed magnetic materials that could be viable for use as inductors or circulators that will enable further miniaturization of printed microelectronics since these have been difficult to fabricate with traditional thin film growth techniques with high permeability (μ) over high frequencies [127].…”

Section: International Journal Of Antennas and Propagationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Printable Materials for the Realization of High Performance RF Components: Challenges and Opportunities

Rosker

Sandhu

Hester

et al. 2018

International Journal of Antennas and Propagation

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Printing methods such as additive manufacturing (AM) and direct writing (DW) for radio frequency (RF) components including antennas, filters, transmission lines, and interconnects have recently garnered much attention due to the ease of use, efficiency, and low-cost benefits of the AM/DW tools readily available. The quality and performance of these printed components often do not align with their simulated counterparts due to losses associated with the base materials, surface roughness, and print resolution. These drawbacks preclude the community from realizing printed low loss RF components comparable to those fabricated with traditional subtractive manufacturing techniques. This review discusses the challenges facing low loss RF components, which has mostly been material limited by the robustness of the metal and the availability of AM-compatible dielectrics. We summarize the effective printing methods, review ink formulation, and the postprint processing steps necessary for targeted RF properties. We then detail the structure-property relationships critical to obtaining enhanced conductivities necessary for printed RF passive components. Finally, we give examples of demonstrations for various types of printed RF components and provide an outlook on future areas of research that will require multidisciplinary teams from chemists to RF system designers to fully realize the potential for printed RF components.

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Section: International Journal Of Antennas and Propagationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Printable Materials for the Realization of High Performance RF Components: Challenges and Opportunities

Rosker

Sandhu

Hester

et al. 2018

International Journal of Antennas and Propagation

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“…The material can be placed in the crystalline/metallic state either by direct heating using a heating plate (like the process shown on Figure 1), by Joule direct-or indirect-heating using short current pulses (as currently employed for non-volatile memory technologies or RF-PCM switches [14]- [16]) or by direct laser irradiation using short laser pulses which will locally heat the material in a controlled way [13], [20]- [22]. Subsequently, the reversible transition from a metallic to an insulating state can be achieved, in a repetitive and reproducible manner, by using the direct irradiation of the GeTe film with short laser pulses, with a KrF Compex Pro110 laser (λ = 248 nm, 15 mm x 5 mm laser spot size, a pulse duration of ∼30 ns and pulse peak powers in the kW-MW range), as shown in Fig.…”

Section: Electrical Properties and Optical Control Of Getementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this work, we propose a polarization reconfigurable antenna using the optical control of specific elements integrated within the antenna main body realized with phase change material (PCM). PCM-based technology has been recently proven to be an effective method for realizing high-frequency switches (including the millimeter-waves frequencies) by controlling the material's properties (from an insulating state to a metallic one) using optical or electrical excitations [12]- [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The integration of GeTe or GST (Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 ) phase change materials into high-frequency functions is based on their ability to change from an amorphous state, OFF (insulating phase material) to a crystalline state, ON (conductive phase material) following the application of a thermal, electrical or optical stimulus. These materials have a good power handling capability, low energy consumption, high OFF state isolation, low ON state losses and a factor of merit greater than the current semiconductor-based switching technologies, over large frequency domains (up to 70 GHz) [12]- [22]. The key advantage of PCM-based devices technology is the bi-stability, i.e., they do not require a permanent bias to be maintained in their ON or OFF state.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PCMs transformation from an amorphous to a crystalline state and inversely, requires controlled and precise heating and cooling conditions brought by optical or electrical activation [12]- [16]. Compared with previously reported electrical activation of phase change in GeTe materials requiring elaborate heating scheme and technologically-complexmaterial stacks (thin film resistors, thermal and dielectric barriers, PCM-active and passivation materials) [14]- [16], optical activation of PCMs materials [20]- [22] and high frequency devices [12], [13], using direct irradiation with short optical pulses, may be preferable from the point of view of device fabrication simplicity and its non-essential encapsulation/ packaging requirements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Polarization Reconfigurable Patch Antenna in the Millimeter-Waves Domain Using Optical Control of Phase Change Materials

Valdes

Huitema

Arnaud

et al. 2020

IEEE Open J. Antennas Propag.

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We present the integration of GeTe (Germanium Telluride), a phase change material (PCM), within the structure of an antenna operating in the millimeter wave domain (∼ 30 GHz) in order to make it reconfigurable in three polarizations: a linear polarization (LP), a left hand circular polarization (LHCP) and a right hand circular polarization (RHCP). The device is based on a conventional patch antenna excited by a microstrip line with the GeTe material integrated into the four corners of the patch. The phase change between the insulating (OFF) and metallic (ON) states of this material is controlled by direct irradiation using ultraviolet (UV) short laser pulses and allows the reconfigurability of the antenna between an LP, an LHCP and an RHCP. The measured performances of the fabricated device show axial ratios of less than 3 dB over a 400 MHz of bandwidth around 29.5 GHz with total efficiencies up to 75 % for the circularly polarized configurations and a maximum gain up to 8.3 dBi for the linear polarization states. INDEX TERMS Optical activation, patch antenna, phase change material, polarization reconfiguration.

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Nanopatterning of GeTe phase change films via heated-probe lithography

et al. 2017

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The crystallization of amorphous germanium telluride (GeTe) thin films is controlled with nanoscale resolution using the heat from a thermal AFM probe. The dramatic differences between the amorphous and crystalline GeTe phases yield embedded nanoscale features with strong topographic, electronic, and optical contrast. The flexibility of scanning probe lithography enables the width and depth of the features, as well as the extent of their crystallization, to be controlled by varying probe temperature and write speed. Together, these technologies suggest a new approach to nanoelectronic and opto-electronic device fabrication.

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Optically controlled GeTe phase change switch and its applications in reconfigurable antenna arrays

Cited by 12 publications

References 8 publications

Printable Materials for the Realization of High Performance RF Components: Challenges and Opportunities

Printable Materials for the Realization of High Performance RF Components: Challenges and Opportunities

A Polarization Reconfigurable Patch Antenna in the Millimeter-Waves Domain Using Optical Control of Phase Change Materials

Nanopatterning of GeTe phase change films via heated-probe lithography

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