RF performance of CPW transmission line fabricated with inkjet printing technology

Abstract

While inkjet printing technology shows a great potential for fabricating RF microwave circuitry and interconnects, the additional work is needed. Here we have studied the copper metal nanoparticle ink as a metal for printing coplanar waveguides transmission lines on BT substrates. Although the RF efficiency of the printed CPW lines exhibits an overall some lower characteristics than that of the CCL CPW lines, the improvements in printing techniques and the surface preparation will provide for lower conductor losses and then the printed line will be almost a match for CCL in RF performance. We confirm that the inkjet printing shows a very promising future for ultra-low-cost printing of passive microwave circuitry and interconnects. Low cost RF MEMS and CNT sensor device are also envisioned in the future of inkjet printing.