Specialists at Fraunhofer US, an autonomous international branch of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, have succeeded in fabricating ultra-thin nano membranes from synthetic diamonds.
This technology, designed to be incorporated into electronic devices, promises to reduce local heat buildup by up to ten times. This breakthrough has the potential to increase the performance and durability of electric vehicles, as well as shorten battery charging times.
Relevant discovery in synthetic diamonds
[post_relacionado]Experts highlight the exceptional thermal conductivity of diamond, which is four to five times higher than that of traditional copper. This characteristic makes it a highly attractive material for cooling power electronics in applications such as electric transport, photovoltaic systems and energy storage solutions.
Traditionally, heat sinks made of copper or aluminum have been used to increase heat dissipation in electronic components. heat dissipation in electronic components, thus preventing overheating damage This prevents damage due to overheating when performing energy-intensive tasks.
However, synthetic diamond nanomembranes, which are thinner than a human hair, offer direct integration into the power electronics of electric vehiclesThe new systems optimize the cooling of their conventional systems by managing the transfer of energy from the battery to the electric motor and converting direct current into alternating current.
Electrical conductivity
These membranes, which are both flexible and electrically insulating, represent a promising solution for minimizing thermal loading on key electronic components, such as current regulators in electric motors. This translates into a significant improvement in energy efficiency, extended service life and optimized performance of electric vehicles on the move.
In the field of electrical charging infrastructure, the application of these diamond membranes facilitates charging speeds up to five times higher than current standards.
The researchers add that, although the application of a copper layer under the electronic component may favor heat dissipation, the presence of an intermediate layer of oxide or nitride, with insulating properties but low thermal conductivity, may be counterproductive. One of the proposals is to replace this intermediate layer with the synthetic diamond nano membrane, whose heat transfer capacity to copper is exceptionally high. Then, thanks to the possibility of processing diamonds to create heat conducting paths.
The functioning of nanomembranes
Matthias Mühle, Group Leader Diamond Technologies at the Fraunhofer US Center Midwest CMW, said in a statement that the flexibility and autonomy of this membrane, can be adapted to any part of the electronic component or integrated directly into the cooling circuit.
The process of creating the nano membrane involves its development on a separate silicon wafer, followed by its separation, inversion and etching on the back of the synthetic diamond layer. This process results in a smooth, free-standing diamond that can be heat treated at a low temperature of about 80 °C to adhere to the electronic component. This heat treatment ensures automatic bonding of the micrometer-thick membrane to the electronic component, fully integrating it into the system.
Fabrication of the nano membrane is possible on wafers of four inches or more, thus adapting to a wide range of industrial applications. Mühle has announced that this development has been patented and that application tests will begin this year on inverters and transformers for important economic sectors such as electric transport and telecommunications.
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Source: mining.com