The Functional Materials Department develops materials with specific electronic, magnetic, optical, thermal, or other properties to satisfy previously unattainable performance metrics. These properties are combined with each other, or with mechanical properties, to yield multi-functional materials at the leading edge of materials research. Teledyne Scientific Company has developed novel approaches to integrated magnetics to enable high efficiency power conversion. A spin-off company, ColdWatt, now sells commercial power conversion products based on this technology. We continue to develop the next generation of these technologies through functional composite materials with magnetic constituents on the nanometer scale.

The combination of structure and function is an active research thrust. For example, we are developing technologies to improve the bonding between semiconductor power devices or light-emitting devices and their substrates. Such bonding techniques allow higher-temperature operation, stronger bond integrity, and improved heat transfer. We are also developing polymer nano-composite materials with improved electrical and thermal conductivity. Innovative approaches to electromagnetic “cross-tunability,” which can be adapted to a range of communications and radar applications, also push the envelope of materials multi-functionality for high technology applications.