Handbook of Graphene, Volume 8

Technology and Innovations

Sulaiman Wadi Harun

• Publisher: Wiley-Scrivener
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781119469803
• eBook ISBN: 9781119469988
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Materials Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

The eighth volume in a series of handbooks on graphene research and applications

The Handbook of Graphene, Volume 8: Technology and Innovations discusses the role of graphene-based applications in technological advancements. Topics include graphene materials used in circuit board repairs; RFID antenna and sensor fabrication; and wearable healthcare electronics. Chapters present detailed information on: modeling methods used in graphene research; applications of graphene-on-silicon photonic integrated circuits; the development of graphene for engineering applications; and other graphene subjects of interest to scientists, chemists and physicists.

Chapter 1
Reworking Defective Soldering Joints With Graphene Sheets and Gold Nanoparticles

Ezzat G. Bakhoum

University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, USA

Email: [email protected]

Abstract

This chapter describes a novel use of graphene that was recently published by the author: the repair of defective soldering joints in densely packed printed circuit boards and multi-chip modules. Gold nanoparticles are first deposited on the surface of a miniature graphene sheet. The graphene sheet is then attached or placed on the solder pad or joint that must be reworked, and a low-power laser with a wavelength in the range of 500–800 nm is directed to the area where the graphene sheet is present. Gold nanoparticles absorb the electromagnetic radiation at such wavelengths very effectively, and intense surface plasmons are generated in the nanoparticles. The surface plasmons cause the nanoparticles—and the graphene sheet to which the nanoparticles are attached—to heat up, where the temperature can reach several hundred degrees Celsius. This in turn causes the solder that is in contact with the graphene sheet to melt, while other solder joints in the vicinity remain unaffected. The narrow wavelength range of 540–572 was determined to be the optimal range of wavelengths for the present application.

Keywords: Precision soldering, applications of gold nanoparticles, low power laser in industrial applications, applications of graphene, heating profile in soldering

1.1 Introduction

This chapter describes some recent major improvements to a very old application: manual soldering. Traditionally, the ubiquitous soldering iron is the tool of choice for fixing defective soldering joints. Continuous miniaturization of consumer products during the past two decades, however, has led to printed circuit (PC) boards and multi-chip modules that are very densely packed with components. The inter-lead spacing in many integrated circuit (IC) chips nowadays is typically 0.5 mm, and the inter-component spacing on most PC boards is even less. Reworking a single defective soldering joint on a PC board has therefore become very challenging, because it is practically impossible to touch a joint with a soldering iron without also touching the neighboring joints. For this reason, a research group led by the author has recently developed and published a totally new technique for reworking/repairing defective soldering joints in PC boards and multi-chip modules [1]. The technique is not based on traditional soldering methods or tools, but rather on the remarkable properties of graphene and gold nanoparticles (GNPs).

Figure 1.1 shows the fundamental principle of the new precision soldering technique. In recent years, it was discovered that GNPs have the ability to absorb electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of 500–800 nm (green to infrared) very effectively, where the absorption of electromagnetic energy at such wavelengths results in intense surface plasmons in the gold nanoparticle [2–7]. It was observed that the presence of such surface plasmons instantly raises the temperature of the GNPs several hundred degrees Celsius. In the present application, GNPs are deposited on a pad or solder joint that must be reworked. A low-power laser is directed to the area where the gold nanoparticles are present. The GNPs heat up, where the temperature can quickly reach several hundred degrees. This causes the solder that is in contact with the nanoparticles to melt, while other solder joints in the vicinity remain unaffected. It is important to point out that the laser beam in Figure 1.1 may cover a large area (one or more pads), but only the pads or joints where the GNPs are present will experience a rise in temperature.

Figure 1.1 Fundamental principle of the new precision soldering technique: gold nanoparticles (dimensions greatly exaggerated) are deposited on a pad or solder joint that must be reworked. A low-power laser is directed to the area where the gold nanoparticles are present. Surface plasmons in the nanoparticles cause the nanoparticles to heat up, where the temperature can reach several hund...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Preface
• Chapter 1: Reworking Defective Soldering Joints With Graphene Sheets and Gold Nanoparticles
• Chapter 2: Printed Graphene Radio Frequency and Sensing Applications for Internet of Things
• Chapter 3: Modeling and Characterization of the Metal Contact and the Channel in a Graphene Device
• Chapter 4: Modeling of Graphene-Based Electronics: From Material Properties to Circuit Simulations
• Chapter 5: Hybrid Graphene–Silicon Photonic and Optoelectronic Integrated Devices
• Chapter 6: Sustainability, Research, and Development of Graphene for Engineering Applications
• Chapter 7: Graphene Oxide Multilayers Obtained from Bamboo: New Synthesis Method, Basic Properties, and Future Electronic Applications
• Chapter 8: Laser Direct-Writing Graphene Oxide to Graphene—Mechanisms to Applications
• Chapter 9: Wave Propagation Responses of Double-Layered Graphene Sheets in Hygrothermal Environment
• Chapter 10: Graphene Terahertz Leaky-Wave Antennas
• Chapter 11: Terahertz Applications of Graphene
• Chapter 12: Modelling of Graphene Nanoribbons Antenna Based on MoM-GEC Method to Enhance Nanocommunications in Terahertz Range
• Chapter 13: Graphene-Based Plasmonic Components for THz Applications: Planar Ring Array Devices
• Chapter 14: Continuous Graphene Oxide Fiber and Its Applications
• Chapter 15: Buckling Characteristics of Bilayer Graphene Sheets Subjected to Humid Thermomechanical Loading
• Chapter 16: Polymer/Graphene Nanomaterials: A Platform for Current High-Tech Applications
• Chapter 17: Graphene-Based Advanced Nanostructures
• Index
• End User License Agreement