Inkjet-Printed Wideband Planar Monopole Antenna on Cardboard for RF Energy-Harvesting Applications

We present a fully inkjet-printed novel wideband planar monopole antenna on thin packaging cardboard available in bulk for low-cost and environmentally-friendly mass manufacturing. We outline the characterization and the dielectric properties of the cardboard that are imperative for the successful design of an antenna on a paper-based substrate. To achieve highly conductive inkjet-printed pattern on the fibrous and porous cardboard, we deposit thin dielectric coating on the cardboard in the same inkjet process. The operation of the antenna is attested through simulations and measurements in the frequency range of 600-1500 MHz, where there are several strong radio signals present for ambient RF energy harvesting.