Aerospace & Defense Technology - December 2024 - 23

RF & Microwave Technology
researchers in 2011 whose physical and
electrochemical properties can be adjusted
by slightly altering their chemical composition.
MXenes have been widely used in
the last decade for applications that
require materials with precise physiochemical
behavior, such as electromagnetic
shielding, biofiltration and energy
storage. They have also been explored for
telecommunications applications for
many years due to their efficiency in transmitting
radio waves and their ability to be
adjusted to selectively block and allow
transmission of electromagnetic waves.
Using kirigami techniques, originally
developed in Japan the 4th and 5th centuries
A.D., the researchers made a series
of parallel cuts in the MXene-coated surface.
Pulling at the edges of the sheet
triggered an array of square-shaped resonator
antennas to spring from its two-dimensional
surface. Varying the tension
caused the angle of the array to shift - a
capability that could be deployed to
quickly adjust the communications configuration
of the antennas.
" Frequency selective surfaces, like
these antennas, are periodic structures
that selectively transmit, reflect, or
absorb electromagnetic waves at specific
frequencies, " said Mohammad Zarifi,
Principal Research Chair, an associate
professor at UBC, who helped lead the
research. " They have active and/or passive
structures and are commonly used in
applications such as antennas, radomes,
and reflectors to control wave propagation
direction in wireless communication
at 5G and beyond platforms. "
The kirigami antennas proved effective
at transmitting signals in three commonly
used microwave frequency bands:
2-4 GHz, 4-8 GHz and 8-12 GHz. Additionally,
the team found that shifting
the geometry and direction of the substrate
could redirect the waves from each
resonator.
The frequency produced by the resonator
shifted by 400 MHz as its shape was
deformed under strain conditions -
demonstrating that it could perform effectively
as a strain sensor for monitoring the
condition of infrastructure and buildings.
According to the team, these findings
are the first step toward integrating the
components on relevant structures and
wireless devices. With kirigami's myriad
forms as their inspiration, the team will
now seek to optimize the performance of
the antennas by exploring new shapes,
substrates and movements.
" Our goal here was to simultaneously
improve the adjustability of antenna
performance as well as create a simple
manufacturing process for new microwave
components by incorporating a
versatile MXene nanomaterial with kirigami-inspired
designs, " said Omid Niksan,
Ph.D., from University of British
Columbia, who was an author of the
The researchers assembled two kirigami antenna
arrays for testing. They also created a prototype
of a co-planar resonator - a component used in
sensors that naturally produces waves of a certain
frequency - to showcase the versatility of the approach.
(Image: Drexel University)
paper. " The next phase of this research
will explore new materials and geometries
for the antennas. "
The research was supported by the
Canadian Department of National
Defense, the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada, the
Rogers Corporation and the U.S. National
Science Foundation.
This article was written by the Drexel
University Marketing and Communications
Team. For more information, contact
Britt Faulstick, britt.faulstick@
drexel.edu.
XGL3014 Series
Ultra-low Loss Power Inductors
* The industry's lowest DCR for greatest efficiency
* Current ratings up to 16.0 A with soft saturation
* Wide inductance range from 0.082 to 1.8 μH
* Industry-leading 80 V voltage rating - suitable for
wide VIN
DC-DC converters
Free Samples @ www.coilcraft.com/XGL
Aerospace & Defense Technology, December 2024
mobilityengineeringtech.com
23
http://info.hotims.com/86262-732 http://www.mobilityengineeringtech.com
Aerospace & Defense Technology - December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aerospace & Defense Technology - December 2024
