Advanced BST based SYStems: new RF designs – ABSYS 2

Nowadays, due to the rapid development of wireless communication systems, in particular, public telecommunication, such as, television, internet, mobile phones and global positioning systems (GPS), transceiver architectures demand constant miniaturization of millimeter wave and microwave devices , better integration , lower power consumption and low cost. For this reason, the next generation wireless communication systems turn toward multi-function modules by incorporating reconfigurable and tunable structures.
This project aims to explore new ways in order to achieve a telecommunication system with size miniaturization and complex functionality. In this view, this project proposes to use nanotechnology to realize innovative microwave components using the ferroelectric titanate of barium and Strontium Ba1-xSrxTiO3 (BST). BST is a ferroelectric tunable material at room temperature and can be used to achieve multiple applications in circuit design and tunable devices.
To achieve the goals of this project, simultaneous efforts in materials development, process technologies and device designs are required to obtain a high-quality Radio Frequency (RF) system with tunable, compact, highly integrated, reliable, temperature stable components, in addition to good power handling capabilities. To develop such innovative devices, it is necessary that engineers and researchers in advanced materials and micro-electronics work in conjunction with telecommunication industry. This project aims to achieve a new level of tunable BST technology for microwave components, such as tunable filters, antennas, and capacitors. Concerning the materials, our effort will concern the optimization of the electrodes, the structure and microstructure of the ferroelectric and the interfaces quality in the components. At a fundamental level, it is important to study the best technological conditions with respect to type of substrate, thickness of BST, and BST optimization to design the proposed components, namely filters, antennas and capacitors. In the design level, different structure topologies and design schemes should be studied to achieve maximum tunability with minimum size and power consumption.
The work plan is based on technology optimization that is suitable for different microwave components including the fabrication of BST, the selection of technology and optimal design whose results will be used in the implementation of more complex structures and devices.
In this project we target the presentation of new functionality and performance of BST based RF and microwave components with respect to miniaturization, multiple functionality and power handling capabilities.