Sustainable electronics Chip-free wireless tags reduce electronic waste

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FAULHABER Drive Systems

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed a basis for wireless tags without integrated circuits. This technology could reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste from RFID tags and at the same time lower the manufacturing costs for tracking and identification systems.

A research team has presented a technology that could enable wireless tags to work without microchips. Instead, they use special materials and designs to transmit data. These chip-free tags could be used in various areas such as logistics, retail and industrial production.

The wireless tags are not only able to store information, but can also perform real-time temperature measurement in the range between 20 and 110 °C (68°F-230°F) . They can be read with a "low-cost and portable" device.

How the chip-free tags work

The newly developed tags are based on the backscattering of existing signals to transmit information. By dispensing with active electronic components, they do not require their own energy source. This not only reduces the amount of material required, but also the production costs.

The sensors are based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a flexible, biocompatible polymer enriched with electrically conductive nanoparticles. This special composition enables precise modulation of electromagnetic waves through targeted deformation of the material under mechanical or thermal stress. This mechanism enables the tag not only to reflect ambient waves, but also to influence their amplitude and frequency in order to transmit coded information wirelessly.

The PDMS-based material serves as a reactive layer that passively modifies external signals. By cleverly structuring the surface, the PDMS material can amplify or attenuate specific frequencies so that information can be encoded and transmitted wirelessly.

Potential for less electronic waste

As these tags do not require chips, less electronic waste is generated. Particularly in supply chains, where RFID tags are often only used once, significantly less waste could be generated. Over 10 billion RFID tags end up in the trash every year.

In addition, the chip-free tags can be made from biodegradable or recyclable materials, further improving the environmental footprint. Initial tests indicate that the technology also works reliably in harsh environments, which facilitates its use in industry.

"The new technology we have developed uses materials that are cheap and widely available, and the tags can be manufactured using a simple, scalable process. Our hope is that these unique properties can help the technology become widely used in the coming years and help reduce the environmental damage currently caused by disposable RFID tags," comments one of the co-authors of the research article, Dr. Benjamin Jing from the James Watt School of Engineering, on his project.

However, the authors of the scientific article emphasize that further research is needed to fully understand the long-term reliability and potential applications of these chip-free tags. This includes tests in real logistics processes as well as a comprehensive analysis of transmission quality over longer distances. (mc)