Transparent and printed RF electronics: a comprehensive review of materials, and applications
The development of transparent radio-frequency (RF) electronics has enabled the creation of flexible, lightweight devices with novel applications. A key driver of this advancement is printed electronic devices, which offer scalable and environmentally friendly manufacturing methods. This study revie...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-10-01
|
| Series: | Materials & Design |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525010032 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849233640113831936 |
|---|---|
| author | Prabhakar Jepiti Junghyeon Kim Sumin Bark Sungjoon Lim |
| author_facet | Prabhakar Jepiti Junghyeon Kim Sumin Bark Sungjoon Lim |
| author_sort | Prabhakar Jepiti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of transparent radio-frequency (RF) electronics has enabled the creation of flexible, lightweight devices with novel applications. A key driver of this advancement is printed electronic devices, which offer scalable and environmentally friendly manufacturing methods. This study reviews recent progress in materials, fabrication techniques, and design strategies for transparent RF devices. The review examines critical materials, including conductive nanoparticle inks, conductive polymers, and emerging nanowire-based materials, and it assesses their electrical, mechanical, and optical properties. In addition, various printing technologies, such as inkjet, screen, electrohydrodynamic jet, offset, and roll-to-roll printing, are also evaluated for their ability to produce high-performance, miniaturised, and transparent RF devices. Current challenges, including the optimisation of conductivity, metallisation, transparency, and material durability, are also discussed. Finally, key application areas (such as antennas, metamaterial absorbers, and frequency-selective surfaces) are explored, with a focus on balancing transparency and functional performance. Finally, future challenges and opportunities are highlighted to encourage further research in this rapidly evolving field of transparent RF electronics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7fa4db3d4d774a5995f2f7ea0c6cedc0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0264-1275 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials & Design |
| spelling | doaj-art-7fa4db3d4d774a5995f2f7ea0c6cedc02025-08-20T05:04:14ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-10-0125811458310.1016/j.matdes.2025.114583Transparent and printed RF electronics: a comprehensive review of materials, and applicationsPrabhakar Jepiti0Junghyeon Kim1Sumin Bark2Sungjoon Lim3School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea; School of Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author.The development of transparent radio-frequency (RF) electronics has enabled the creation of flexible, lightweight devices with novel applications. A key driver of this advancement is printed electronic devices, which offer scalable and environmentally friendly manufacturing methods. This study reviews recent progress in materials, fabrication techniques, and design strategies for transparent RF devices. The review examines critical materials, including conductive nanoparticle inks, conductive polymers, and emerging nanowire-based materials, and it assesses their electrical, mechanical, and optical properties. In addition, various printing technologies, such as inkjet, screen, electrohydrodynamic jet, offset, and roll-to-roll printing, are also evaluated for their ability to produce high-performance, miniaturised, and transparent RF devices. Current challenges, including the optimisation of conductivity, metallisation, transparency, and material durability, are also discussed. Finally, key application areas (such as antennas, metamaterial absorbers, and frequency-selective surfaces) are explored, with a focus on balancing transparency and functional performance. Finally, future challenges and opportunities are highlighted to encourage further research in this rapidly evolving field of transparent RF electronics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525010032Printed electronicsTransparent RF devicesConductive inksTransparent antennasTransparent metamaterial absorbersTransparent frequency-selective surfaces |
| spellingShingle | Prabhakar Jepiti Junghyeon Kim Sumin Bark Sungjoon Lim Transparent and printed RF electronics: a comprehensive review of materials, and applications Materials & Design Printed electronics Transparent RF devices Conductive inks Transparent antennas Transparent metamaterial absorbers Transparent frequency-selective surfaces |
| title | Transparent and printed RF electronics: a comprehensive review of materials, and applications |
| title_full | Transparent and printed RF electronics: a comprehensive review of materials, and applications |
| title_fullStr | Transparent and printed RF electronics: a comprehensive review of materials, and applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transparent and printed RF electronics: a comprehensive review of materials, and applications |
| title_short | Transparent and printed RF electronics: a comprehensive review of materials, and applications |
| title_sort | transparent and printed rf electronics a comprehensive review of materials and applications |
| topic | Printed electronics Transparent RF devices Conductive inks Transparent antennas Transparent metamaterial absorbers Transparent frequency-selective surfaces |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525010032 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT prabhakarjepiti transparentandprintedrfelectronicsacomprehensivereviewofmaterialsandapplications AT junghyeonkim transparentandprintedrfelectronicsacomprehensivereviewofmaterialsandapplications AT suminbark transparentandprintedrfelectronicsacomprehensivereviewofmaterialsandapplications AT sungjoonlim transparentandprintedrfelectronicsacomprehensivereviewofmaterialsandapplications |