Researchers used the kirigami art folding technique to make versatile and durable antennas for wireless technology. (Image Credit: Drexel University)
Researchers at Drexel University and the University of British Columbia sought inspiration from kirigami to enhance wireless technology. The team believes this ancient Japanese art folding technique can improve the durability, versatility, and manufacturing efficiency of antennas transmitting electromagnetic waves. Coating an acetate sheet with conductive MXene ink enables it to function like kirigami, transforming into a 3D flexible microwave antenna with an adjustable transmission frequency.
The team can fabricate lightweight, flexible, and durable antennas with different shapes and forms, making them ideal for aerospace components and movable robotics. First, they made the antennas by coating an acetate sheet with titanium carbide MXene conductive ink for frequency-selective patterns. MXene can bind to the substrate, resulting in a rigid antenna. It’s also adjustable so that the antenna’s transmission settings can be reconfigured.
By applying kirigami techniques, the team made a sequence of parallel cuts in the MXene-coated surface. Stretching the sheet’s edges caused square resonator antennas to emerge out of the 2D surface. Tension adjustments alter the array’s angle, which can quickly change the antenna’s communication configuration.
Additionally, the team built two kirigami-based antenna arrays and a co-planar resonator prototype to demonstrate its versatility. They believe that resonators and reconfigurable antennas could be practical for communication and strain-sensing applications. The antennas transmit signals in three microwave frequency bands: 2-4 GHz, 4-8 GHz, and 8-12 GHz.
The researchers also discovered that adjusting the substrate’s shape and orientation can change the direction of the resonator’s waves. While its shape changed under strain, the resonator’s frequency was altered by 400 MHz. It can function efficiently as a strain sensor that monitors the condition of buildings and infrastructure.
The team believes these antennas can be incorporated into wireless devices and structures. Their next step involves finding ways to optimize the antenna’s performance, in which they plan to experiment with different substrates, shapes, and movements.
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