Nanotechnology-Enabled Additively-Manufactured RF and Millimeter-wave Electronics

This paper covers examples of state-of-the-art nanotechnology-empowered materials relying on additive manufacturing techniques for the ultra-low-cost fabrication of flexible radio frequency (RF) and millimeter-wave (mm-wave) wireless electronics and sensors. First, a look into the utilization of carbon-based nanomaterial inks such as carbon nanotubes inks for chemical sensing applications is provided, reporting the most sensitive inkjet-printed ammonia and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) vapor sensors. These sensors are then integrated with very high-performance flexible printed antenna structures for emerging Internet of Skins (IoS) and 5G applications. The focus is then shifted towards the realization of fully inkjet-printed passive devices including Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitors and spiral inductors. Finally, the importance of nanomaterial-based inks is highlighted in the development and fabrication of high-performance fully inkjet-printed 3D interconnects for wireless mm-wave packaging solutions. Conductive silver nanoparticle and dielectric polymer-based inks are utilized to realize this interface between a die and its packaging substrate, opening new doors for the next generation of advanced, high-performance and ultra-low-cost microelectronic manufacturing and packaging solutions.