Using material characterisation, along with computer modelling and engineering, the researchers designed an antenna that could exchange information with NFC devices such as a mobile phone and claim the performance matched that of conventional metallic antennas. The graphene basedf antennas are chemically inert, highly resistant to thousands of bending cycles and can be deposited on different standard polymeric substrates or even silk tissues.
Vincenzo Palermo, group leader of the nanochemistry laboratory at CNR-ISOF, said: “A key target for modern technology is to replace metals
with lighter, cheaper, less energy-consuming and better recyclable materials. Due to its combination of superior properties, graphene can be used to produce fully flexible NFC antennas.
“We have developed a NFC antenna with different graphene derivatives. Several designs, materials and configurations were studied and tested. The graphene antennas were laminated on different substrates like PET, PVC and Kapton. Furthermore a silk/graphene paper wearable antenna was prepared. This technology could be developed further within the field of flexible electronics and communication technology.”
The graphene NFC demonstrators were said to have shown good functionality, whether used flat or fixed on curved objects.
“If this approach is performed in the right way,” Palermo added, “the graphene antennas can be used directly in working devices, with no additional tuning of, for example, software or hardware.”
