Study of Antimicrobial Copper Envelopes for RFID Using Impedance Matching

This paper proposes an antimicrobial envelope design for RFID cards made from copper. Copper has natural antimicrobial properties but typically blocks radio waves. The design addresses this challenge by creating a copper envelope that functions as an antenna, allowing communication between the RFID reader and card while reducing microbial transmission. The paper explores the theory of impedance matching between the reader, card, and envelope. It details the design process, including resistance and inductance measurements and antenna design principles. Finally, the paper presents simulation results that show successful impedance matching at the target frequency and experimental results where the RFID card with the copper envelope could communicate with the reader, albeit at a shorter distance. This research suggests a promising solution for creating hygienic RFID cards while maintaining functionality. Further development is needed to optimize communication range for practical applications.