A Novel Conformal RFID-Enabled Module Utilizing Inkjet-Printed Antennas and Carbon Nanotubes for Gas-Detection Applications

Author

Yang, Li ; Zhang, Rongwei ; Staiculescu, Daniela ; Wong, C.P. ; Tentzeris, Manos M.

Author_Institution

Georgia Inst. of Technol., Atlanta, GA, USA

Volume

8

fYear

2009

fDate

7/1/1905 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

653

Lastpage

656

Abstract

This letter introduces for the first time the integration of a conformal radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna with a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) composite in a chipless RFID node for toxic gas detection. The electrical performance characterization of the inkjet-printed SWCNT film is also reported for the first time up to 1 GHz. The whole module is realized by inkjet printing on a low-cost paper-based substrate, and the RFID tag is designed for the European UHF RFID band. The electrical conductivity of the SWCNT film changes in the presence of very small quantities of toxic gases like ammonia and nitrogen oxide, resulting in the variation of the backscattered power level, which can be easily detected by the RFID reader to realize reliable wireless toxic gas sensing.

Keywords

UHF antennas; carbon nanotubes; conformal antennas; gas sensors; ink jet printing; radiofrequency identification; wireless sensor networks; European UHF RFID band; RFID reader; RFID tag; conformal RFID antenna; electrical conductivity; electrical performance characterization; inkjet-printed SWCNT film; inkjet-printed antennas; low-cost paper-based substrate; radio frequency identification; single-walled carbon nanotube composite; toxic gas detection; wireless toxic gas sensing; Carbon nanotube (CNT) composites; conformal antennas; gas sensing; inkjet printing; radio frequency identification (RFID); wireless sensor;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1536-1225

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LAWP.2009.2024104

Filename

5033783