Inkjet printed microwave circuits on flexible substrates using heterophase graphene based inks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the result of research on a new fabrication technology of printed circuits board and electronics modules. The new method is based on inkjet printing technique on flexible substrates using new generations of heterophase inks. New fabrications method was used to print microwave waveguides and signal splitters as new technology demonstrators. Design/methodology/approach – A fully Inkjet printed filter was printed on a flexible, transparent Kapton foil using heterophase inks developed in Instytut Technologii Materiałów Elektronicznych (ITME) for the purpose of this research based on graphene and silver nanoparticles. Findings – A microwave module was printed using two types of Inkjet printers – PixDro LP50 with KonicaMinolta 512 printhead – and developed in an Instytut Tele- i Radiotechniczny (ITR) laboratory printer using MicroDrop a 100-μm glass nozzle printhead. Fully printed microwave circuits were evaluated by their print quality and electrical properties. Originality/value – Fully Inkjet printed microwave circuits using the heterophase graphene ink were evaluated by their print quality and electrical properties.