Skin effect suppression in infrared-laser irradiated planar multi-walled carbon nanotube/Cu conductors Available to Purchase

Skin effect suppression in planar multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/Copper (Cu) conductors was realized at the 0-10 MHz frequency range through infrared laser irradiation of MWCNTs, which were coated on the surface of the Cu substrate via the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. The effect of laser irradiation and its power density on electrical and structural properties of the MWCNT/Cu conductors was investigated using a wavelength-tunable CO₂ laser and then comparing the performance of the samples prepared at different conditions with that of pristine Cu. The irradiation at λ=9.219 µm proved to be effective in selective delivery of energy towards depths close to the interface, compared to the conventional rapid thermal processing (RTP) annealing method. At f=10 MHz, the ac resistance of the laser irradiated MWCNT/Cu conductors was reduced by more than one order of magnitude compared to its original value for the pristine Cu. Impedance measurements and structural characterizations indicate that this technique results in successful implementation of the nanotubes on the surface of the metallic substrate to operate as current channels with saturated skin depths and reduced contact resistance at the interface. Therefore, the limited performance of Cu conductors at high frequencies can be modified. Additionally, it was further demonstrated that the impedance reduction and the suppression of the skin effect in MWCNT/Cu conductors are in direct relation with the irradiated power density and can thus be easily controlled by this parameter.