Textile Electronics: from Sensors to Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting

The arrival of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) has created an increasing demand for flexible, lightweight, and seamlessly integrated electronic systems. Textile electronics, which merge conductive materials with fabric substrates, present a promising solution for wearable and embedded smart devices. However, challenges such as material conductivity, fabrication scalability, environmental sustainability, and device durability must be addressed for their widespread adoption.

This thesis explores the development of textile-based electronic components, focusing on flexible antennas, multifunctional sensors, and radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting systems. Novel conductive materials, including silver nanoparticle-based inks and graphene composites, were investigated for their electrical performance and compatibility with textile substrates. Scalable and eco-friendly fabrication processes, such as doctor blade and screen-printing, were optimized to integrate electronic functionalities into polyester and natural fiber textiles.

The designed textile antennas were tested for their resonance performance under bending, washing, and body interaction conditions, demonstrating stable operation in the 3 – 3.5 GHz 5G band. Additionally, textile-based sensors for temperature and humidity monitoring were developed, achieving enhanced sensitivity through graphene and PEDOT:PSS composites.

Lastly, sustainable RF energy harvesting solutions using textile-printed rectennas were explored to enable self-powered wearable devices. The findings of this research contribute to advancing textile electronics by providing scalable, high-performance, and sustainable solutions for next-generation wireless and sensing applications. These developments pave the way for integrating smart textiles into IoT ecosystems, enabling applications in healthcare, smart infrastructure, and wearable technology.