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。可伸展或弹性天线将极大地扩展可伸展电子设备在通信和生物医学领域的应用。将制定金属化可伸缩部件的制造策略，并对天线和相关微波部件进行评估。将研究互连和集成微波组件的技术。许多可拉伸材料，包括介电材料和金属材料，将在剑桥大学制造，用于在谢菲尔德大学进行高频测试。随后将在不同厚度的弹性基板上设计和制作金属轨道图案，以确定它们是否适合在从800 MHz到40 GHz的广泛频率范围内运行。微波测量分析将对松弛的(如准备的)样品进行，也将在机械拉伸过程中和之后进行。在确定金属化弹性体的基本性能后，该项目将专注于制造和评估基于这种金属化的天线和微波组件，以用于实际的射频系统。剑桥将负责材料、金属化和图案化技术，而谢菲尔德将评估用于微波应用的材料和部件。嵌入弹性体中的金属薄膜和部件的延伸性将在剑桥(DC和高达1 MHz的范围)和谢菲尔德(在微波条件下)进行评估。将开发用于拉伸薄膜测量的联合测试夹具。此外，谢菲尔德将使用电磁模拟软件(CST)对微波组件和材料进行建模，并帮助设计和性能弹性和可重新配置的组件。

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.