Nanostructured Magnetic Materials for High-Frequency Applications

Magnetic cores integrated onto silicon microchips or printed circuit board (PCB) as a part of microelectronic modules have received increased attention from the scientific/engineering community. The focus of research on such cores can be divided into two major categories: a quest for improved magnetic materials capable of operating at high frequency and a quest for suitable integration techniques. Nanocomposite materials produced by sputtering techniques show an interesting range of magnetic properties. The macroscopic properties of nanostructured composite magnetic materials are determined by the size, morphology, and structure of the constituent phases and by the type and strength of magnetic coupling between them. Nanomodulated film requires a high field to reach saturation magnetization due to the formation of magnetic dipoles and their strong coupling. It is worth noting that inductors required for power conversion applications require low resistance compared to inductors designed for RF signal applications.