Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
A Printable Transparent Wi-fi Antenna
Technology Category/Market
Category – Advanced Material and Manufacturing, Information and Communications Technology
Applications –Advanced Materials, Wireless/ Communications systems, Automobiles
Industry –Manufacturing /Chemical, Information and Communications Technology
Market -The global advanced materials market size was accounted at USD 61.35 billion in 2022 and it is expected to reach around USD 112.7 billion by 2032.
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Problem Statement
- Currently, ever-increasing number of devices in small spaces, all operating in same frequency band, has led to problems like interference, congestion, Wi-Fi fading, dead spots etc.
- Hence, there is need to fabricate flexible transparent Wi-Fi antennas using high conductivity materials, preferably metals to provide a strong, stable wireless connection in often difficult to reach locations.
Technology
- This invention discloses a printable, transparent and flexible antenna for Wi-Fi applications, radiating at 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, using a printable nanocomposite ink, based on metallic NWs and conducting polymers.
- Includes a method of preparing a nanocomposite ink comprising:
- 1 wt% PEDOT: PSS long chain polymer dispersed in water
- 5 wt% metallic nanowires in the solution
- The prepared PEDOT :PSS is added to metallic nano wires at 12 vol% ratio
- The metallic nanowires are sonicated to reduce dimensions <1/50th of apparent nozzle diameter.
- Also, includes a method of fabricating the printable Wi-Fi antenna by the steps of:
- Printing two passes of the nanocomposite ink with 4.5 mg/ml concentration of metallic nanowires at 60oC
- Annealing the printed pattern (100oC /1hr) and connecting an adapter to antenna thereafter.
Key Features/Value Proposition
- Dual band Wi-Fi antenna printed with optimized nano-composite ink comprising metallic nanowires and long chain polymer PEDOT: PSS exhibits improved sheet resistance, flexibility, omni– directional radiation, durability, thermal stability conductivity and transparency
- Any metallic NW-based antenna can be fabricated especially 2D antenna configurations such as dipole, monopole, microstrip, patch, and for RFID antennas.
- Requires less time, simple and has the potential for direct patterning
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
smipm-icsr@icsrpis.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Parasuraman Swaminathan
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Prof. Debdutta Ray
Department of Electrical Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 1796
- IN 428191 (Granted)
Technology Readiness Level
TRL- 2
Technology Concept Formulated