Flexible microstrip antenna based on carbon nanotubes/(ethylene–octene copolymer) thin composite layer deposited on PET substrate

Abstract

A most of portable devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, uses antennas made of cupper. In this paper we demonstrate possible use of electrically conductive polymer composite material for such antenna application. Here we describe the method of preparation and properties of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/(ethylene–octene copolymer) as flexible microstrip antenna. Carbon nanotubes dispersion in (ethylene–octene copolymer) toluene solution was prepared by ultrasound finally coating PET substrate by method of dip-coating. Main advantages of PET substrate are low weight and also flexibility. The final size of flexible microstrip antenna was 5 x 50 mm with thickness of 0.48 mm (PET substrate 0.25 mm) with the weight of only 0.402 g. Antenna operates at three frequencies 1.66 GHz (–6.51 dB), 2.3 GHz (–13 dB) and 2.98 GHz (–33.59 dB).