Assessing the Impact of Human Sweat on the Performance of Frequency-Reconfigurable Textenna

This study presents a thorough performance evaluation of a versatile wearable antenna capable of frequency and polarisation reconfiguration. The antenna employs a distinctive sickle-shaped primary radiating element complemented by a similar structure serving as the ground component. The antenna design was devised on jute fabric, and the conductivity was achieved through the application of conductive copper paint. Two PIN diodes within the ground plane enable the antenna to function across four configurations. Operating autonomously, the developed antenna functions at 2.4, 4.29, 5.78, and 9.39 GHz in Configuration-1, 5 and 5.9 GHz in Configuration-2, 4.4, and 5.8 GHz in Configuration-3, and finally 3.5, 4.4, and 5.3 GHz in Configuration-4. These reconfigurable textile antennas hold significant promise in various strategic applications, notably in health monitoring, security, and safety. The unique design utilising natural fiber material aims at optimal functionality when in contact with the human body under diverse conditions, including sweat absorption and dust resistance. The experimental investigation scrutinises the antenna's operational performance in simulated sweating circumstances using a synthetic sweat solution. Remarkably, the antenna exhibited consistent performance across all experimental conditions. This underscores the robustness of the ‘textenna,’ a term coined to denote the antenna's reliance on natural jute fiber as a substrate and a traditional brush painting method for its fabrication.