INKJET PRINTED ANTENNAS

Abstract

The objective of this design project is to use inkjet printers with conductive ink to print functional antennas. The project is sponsored by the University of Arizona Electrical and Computer Engineering department. The project was completed with a Design of Experiments to determine the best method for printing a working antenna with different printers, inks, substrates, and printing methods. Conductive ink was used with standard inkjet printers to create a twodimensional antenna print, and the final results describe the best method for doing so. This technology is particularly useful because printed antennas may be produced quickly and inexpensively. Some potential applications include creating RFID tags, radio technology, mobile phones, and sensors for aircrafts. The printed antennas are particularly useful for some of these applications due to the size and flexibility of the print.