Angelo Ciarelli
Research Mentor(s): Dandan Zhang
Mentor Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Authors: Angelo Ciarelli, Dandan Zhang, Alan Taub
Session: Session 7 (4:00pm – 4: 50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 20
Abstract
The widespread use of wireless technology in the modern world necessitates a viable method for prevention of electromagnetic interference (EMI) which would allow the wireless devices to function at greater efficiency. This work identified materials and optimized the structures through Monte-Carlo simulation that could be used in EMI shielding and sought to expand the electromagnetic (EM) absorption bandwidth of the materials and maximize the absorbing efficiency. The composites consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and cobalt ferrite were prepared via sonication assisted mixing (SAM) techniques in solution. The solutions were then dehydrated, and ground into powder form which was then formed into plaques through hot-pressing. Different molds and sample holders were fabricated through machining for hot pressing and sample grinding for Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) test. The samples with optimized periodic metastructures exhibited higher EM absorption efficiency and bandwidth when compared to the baseline plaque samples. The experimental results from the sample with an optimized structure also matched the simulation results. This study has served to identify a viable method for production of a lightweight, easy to manufacture material with broadband EM absorption capabilities that can be utilized for the vast majority of wireless technology as well as certain metastructures that will serve to maximize the EM absorption capabilities.
