The study, recently published in *Nature Communications*, demonstrates how kirigami - a form of origami involving paper cutting - can transform a single acetate sheet coated with conductive MXene ink into a flexible 3D antenna. The microwave antenna's transmission frequency can be tuned by altering its shape through stretching or compressing, which allows quick adjustments to its configuration.
The process, described as a proof of concept by the researchers, could pave the way for manufacturing antennas more quickly and cost-effectively. Yury Gogotsi, a co-author and Distinguished University and Bach Professor at Drexel's College of Engineering, explained, "For wireless technology to support advancements in fields like soft robotics and aerospace, antennas need to be designed for tunable performance and with ease of fabrication. Kirigami is a natural model for a manufacturing process, due to the simplicity with which complex 3D forms can be created from a single 2D piece of material."
Traditional microwave antennas can be adjusted either electronically or by reshaping them, but adding electronic components can increase their bulk, vulnerability, and cost. The kirigami approach, however, leverages physical shape changes to create flexible, lightweight, and durable antennas, making them suitable for use on movable robotics and aerospace components.
The test antennas were made by coating a sheet of acetate with a special conductive ink containing titanium carbide MXene. MXene inks offer strong adhesion to substrates, which is essential for durability, and their properties can be tuned to modify antenna transmission specifications.
MXenes, discovered by Drexel researchers in 2011, are two-dimensional nanomaterials known for their adjustable physical and electrochemical properties. Their efficiency in transmitting radio waves has already led to various applications, including electromagnetic shielding, biofiltration, energy storage, and telecommunications.
Utilizing kirigami techniques, the researchers made parallel cuts on the MXene-coated surface. When the edges were pulled, square-shaped resonator antennas emerged from the flat sheet. Adjusting the tension altered the array's angle, potentially allowing for rapid changes in communication configurations.
Two kirigami antenna arrays were built for testing, and the team also developed a prototype of a co-planar resonator - a component used to generate specific frequency waves. These elements could serve not only in communication but also in strain sensing.
"Frequency selective surfaces, like these antennas, are periodic structures that selectively transmit, reflect, or absorb electromagnetic waves at specific frequencies," noted Mohammad Zarifi, an associate professor at UBC who co-led the study. "They are widely 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 successfully transmitted signals in three microwave frequency bands: 2-4 GHz, 4-8 GHz, and 8-12 GHz. The team also observed that changes in the substrate's shape and orientation could redirect the transmitted waves. Additionally, the frequency of the resonator shifted by 400 MHz when its shape was deformed, demonstrating its potential as a strain sensor for infrastructure monitoring.
The researchers view these findings as a first step toward integrating kirigami-based components into practical wireless devices and structures. Future research will focus on optimizing antenna performance by exploring new shapes, materials, and movement patterns inspired by kirigami's wide-ranging forms.
"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, PhD, from the University of British Columbia. "The next phase of this research will explore new materials and geometries for the antennas."
Research Report:MXene-based kirigami designs: showcasing reconfigurable frequency selectivity in microwave regime
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