Elastic antennas and radio frequency components

该项目将研究用于无线天线应用的金属化弹性体在微波频率下的基本特性。可拉伸或弹性天线将大大扩展可拉伸电子产品在通信和生物医学领域的应用。将开发金属化可拉伸组件的制造策略，并评估天线和相关微波组件。将研究互连和集成微波元件的技术。许多可拉伸材料（包括介电材料和金属材料）将在剑桥制造，以便在谢菲尔德大学进行高频测试。随后将在各种厚度的弹性体基底上设计和图案化金属轨道，以确定其在800 MHz至40 GHz的宽频率范围内的适用性。微波测量分析将在松弛（制备）样品上进行，但也在机械拉伸期间和之后进行。在确定了金属化弹性体的基本特性之后，该项目将重点关注基于这种金属化的天线和微波元件的制造和评估，以用于实际的RF系统。剑桥将负责材料、金属化和图案化技术，而谢菲尔德将评估微波应用的材料和组件。将在剑桥（DC和高达1 MHz范围内）和谢菲尔德（微波范围内）评价嵌入弹性体中的金属膜和组件的拉伸性。将开发用于拉伸薄膜测量的接头测试夹具。此外，谢菲尔德将使用电磁仿真软件（CST）来模拟微波组件和材料，并帮助弹性和可重构组件的设计和性能。

The project will investigate the fundamental properties of metallised elastomers at microwave frequencies for wireless antenna applications. Stretchable or elastic antennas will significantly expand stretchable electronics applications both in the communication and biomedical sectors. Manufacturing strategies for metallised stretchable components will be developed and antennas and related microwave components evaluated. Technology for interconnects and incorporating microwave components will be investigated. A number of stretchable materials, both dielectric and metallic, will be fabricated in Cambridge for testing at high frequencies at the University of Sheffield. This will be followed by the design and patterning of metallic tracks on elastomeric substrates of various thicknesses to establish their suitability for operation over a wide range of frequencies from 800 MHz up to 40 GHz. Microwave measurement analysis will be performed on relaxed (as-prepared) samples but also during and after mechanical stretching. After establishing the fundamental properties of the metallised elastomers, the project will focus on the manufacture and evaluation of antennas and microwave components based on such metallization for practical RF systems. Cambridge will be responsible for the materials, metallisation and patterning technologies, while Sheffield will evaluate the materials and components for microwave applications. Stretchability of metal films and components embedded in elastomers will be evaluated in Cambridge (in the DC and up to 1MHz range) and in Sheffield (in the microwave regime). Joint test fixtures will be developed for stretched film measurements. Additionally Sheffield will use electromagnetic simulation software (CST) to model the microwave components and materials and aid the design and performance of elastic and reconfigurable components.