Graphene-based soft wearable antennas

• Published in: Applied materials today Vol. 20; p. 100727
• Main Authors: Ibanez-Labiano, Isidoro, Ergoktas, M. Said, Kocabas, Coskun, Toomey, Anne, Alomainy, Akram, Ozden-Yenigun, Elif
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Chemical vapour deposition; E-textiles; Graphene; Ultra-wideband communication; Wearable antenna; Chemical vapour deposition; Wearable antenna; E-textiles; Graphene; Ultra-wideband communication
• ISSN: 2352-9407; 2352-9415
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2020.100727

•Graphene-based soft antennas for a fully integrated textile-based communication interface.•Exploring sustainable materials in e-textiles, through the testing boundaries of multi-layer graphene in wearable communication applications.•Graphene-based textile antennas that are capable of responding to a broad bandwidth with a slight detuning when placed on the body.•Antenna design ensuring the wearer's comfort by eliminating the additional buffer layers and metallic components. Electronic textiles (e-textiles) are about to face tremendous environmental and resource challenges due to the complexity of sorting, the risk to supplies and metal contamination in textile recycling streams. This is because e-textiles are heavily based on the integration of valuable metals, including gold, silver and copper. In the context of exploring sustainable materials in e-textiles, we tested the boundaries of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) grown multi-layer (ML) graphene in wearable communication applications, in which metal assemblies are leading the way in wearable communication. This study attempts to create a soft, textile-based communication interface that does not disrupt tactile comfort and conformity by introducing ML graphene sheets. The antenna design proposed is based on a multidisciplinary approach that merges electromagnetic engineering and material science and integrates graphene, a long-lasting alternative to metal components. The designed antenna covers a wide bandwidth ranging from 3 GHz to 9 GHz, which is a promising solution for a high data rate and efficient communication link. We also described the effects of bending and proximity to the human body on the antenna's overall performance. Overall, the results suggested that graphene-based soft antennas are a viable solution for a fully integrated textile-based communication interface that can replace the current rigid, restrictive and toxic approaches, leading to a future where eco-friendliness and sustainability is the only way forward! [Display omitted]