Magnetic Nanocomposite Paste: An Ideal High- μ, k and Q Nanomaterial for Embedded Inductors in High Frequency Electronic Applications

Current inductors are the major impediment for miniaturization of electronics, due to the lack of magnetic materials with suitable high frequency properties. Future economically viable miniaturized high frequency electronic components require a low loss high frequency magnetic nanocomposite paste that is compatible with the low temperature powered circuit board (“PCB”) process. Inframat Corporation is pioneering the development of magnetic nanocomposites for high frequency electronic applications [1-8]. This paper reports the work of a magnetic nanocomposite pastes, including silica coated cobalt-BCB and Ni ferrite-epoxy that were investigated as candidate materials. Nanocomposite thick film structures (125-225 microns) were screen printed onto organic substrates. Parallel plate capacitors and single coil coplanar inductors were fabricated on these films to characterize the electrical and magnetic properties of these materials at low and high frequencies. Electrical characterization showed that the Co/SiO2 nanocomposite sample has a permeability and a matching permittivity of ~10 at GHz frequency range making it a good embedded inductor candidate. Both composites retain high permeability at 1-2 GHz.