A Mm-wave ultra-long-range energy-autonomous printed RFID-enabled van-atta wireless sensor: At the crossroads of 5G and IoT

In this paper the authors report the first 5G-compatible implementation of a long-range, energy-autonomous, mm-wave RFID sensor for IoT applications. The system topology is first described, before the design and performance characterization of its constituting components, including an inkjet-printed carbon-nanotube(CNT)-based ammonia sensor, are presented. Then, the entire printed mm-wave backscatter-modulation device is tested, demonstrating a monostatic cross-polarized radar cross-section of -29 dBsm, with only a 10 dB variation within the -50° to 50° interrogation angular range. The wireless ammonia sensing capabilities of the system are then demonstrated, before its detection at an ultra-long-range of 80 m is reported.