Utilization of thin, flexible, and conductive wires that are twisted in a bundle has significantly improved the performance of communication devices operating at MHz frequencies. For GHz frequency applications, available wires are too large in diameter, and development of new synthetic methodologies are required to shrink such wires to sub-micron scale while retaining their flexibility. We present a new method for the preparation of flexible and centimeter long nanowires on a polymer nanofiber scaffold. Single strands of poly(<i>m-</i>phenylene isophthalamide) nanofibers with diameters in the range of 300 - 600 nm were prepared <i>via</i> electrospinning onto a rotating collector. Coaxial coatings of a variety of metals and insulators were performed to illustrate the materials generality of the methodology. The flexibility and compatibility with extreme deposition conditions (up to 350 °C) offered by this nanofiber scaffold paves the way for the improvement of communication devices in the GHz range.

Polymer scaffold based centimeter long nanowires for improved GHz frequency communication devices

256th National Meeting (2018)

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