Selective Metallization of Graphene-based Polymers for Volumetric 3D-printed Antennas

Employment of modern 3D-printing technologies allow efficient exploration of the third space dimension, providing advantages over conventional planar architectures. In particular, volumetric electromagnetic antennas can outperform their planar counterparts. Here a new approach to fabrication of electromagnetic devices is developed and applied to antennas, implemented on b-spline surfaces. The antenna skeleton and the support were simultaneously printed with different polymer materials - PLA mixed with graphene flakes and pure PLA, respectively. Weakly dc-conductive graphene PLA-based skeleton was post-processed and high quality conductive layer was selectively electrochemically deposited on it. The antenna devices were found to demonstrate radiation performance, similar to that achievable with conventional fabrication approaches. However, additive manufacturing of RF antennas provides superior capabilities of constructing tailor-made devices with properties, pre-defined by non-standardized end users.