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Finite element modeling of nanoscale-enabled microinductors for power electronics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2018

Eric D. Langlois ,
Todd C. Monson ,
Dale L. Huber  and
John Watt Open the ORCID record for John Watt [Opens in a new window]
Eric D. Langlois*
Affiliation:
MEMS Technology Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
Todd C. Monson
Affiliation:
Nanoscale Sciences, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
Dale L. Huber
Affiliation:
Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
John Watt
Affiliation:
Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: elanglo@sandia.gov
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Abstract

This article focuses on the finite element modeling of toroidal microinductors, employing first-of-its-kind nanocomposite magnetic core material and superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles covalently cross-linked in an epoxy network. Energy loss mechanisms in existing inductor core materials are covered as well as discussions on how this novel core material eliminates them providing a path toward realizing these low form factor devices. Designs for both a 2 μH output and a 500 nH input microinductor are created via the model for a high-performance buck converter. Both modeled inductors have 50 wire turns, less than 1 cm3 form factors, less than 1 Ω AC resistance, and quality factors, Q’s, of 27 at 1 MHz. In addition, the output microinductor is calculated to have an average output power of 7 W and a power density of 3.9 kW/in3 by modeling with the 1st generation iron nanocomposite core material.

Keywords

microelectronicsmicroelectromechanical (MEMS)magnetic properties
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 33 , Issue 15: Focus Issue: Soft Magnetic Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications , 13 August 2018 , pp. 2223 - 2233
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2018 

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Footnotes

b)

This author was an editor of this journal during the review and decision stage. For the JMR policy on review and publication of manuscripts authored by editors, please refer to http://www.mrs.org/editor-manuscripts/.

References

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