Advancing Sustainable RF PCBs for a greener Electronics
Advancing Sustainable RF PCBs for a greener Electronics
Ferial Guidoum, researcher at Grenoble INP and partner in the DESIRE4EU project, is investigating the use of bio-based materials in RF circuits. Her goal: to enable more sustainable RF PCBs without compromising the performance of high-frequency electronic devices. Her research finds concrete applications as she is designing a new antenna for integration into a bio-based Arduino board.
As demand for wireless communication, IoT devices, and smart sensors grows, so does the need to reconsider the environmental impact of electronics. At the core of these devices lies the Radiofrequency Printed Circuit Board (RF PCB), a specialized PCB designed to reliably handle high-frequency signals used in wireless communication.
However, conventional RF PCBs are built using petroleum-based substrates like FR4 or Rogers, which are neither recyclable nor biodegradable, and are significantly harmful for the environmental.
To offer a more sustainable solution, Ferial Guidom, researcher at Grenoble INP, is exploring how bio-sourced materials, such as PLA and natural fiber composites, can be used in RF applications. Her research focuses on the electromagnetic characterization of these materials to determine whether they can replace conventional substrates in RF circuits.
Ferial works as a postdoctoral research at CROMA Laboratory at Grenoble INP (Grenoble).
Since RF PCB performance heavily depends on the substrate, it is crucial to ensure that these bio-based alternatives meet the necessary requirements. Indeed, the properties of these materials must be:
- Stable within the required frequency band,
- Reproducible from sample to sample,
- Compatible with standard PCB manufacturing processes,
- And, importantly, must not induce excessive losses or detuning in RF devices.
“Compared to traditional materials, they are more sensitive to humidity and temperature, which can affect their RF performance. They need serious evaluation to ensure they not only meet industry standards but can also be produced using existing equipment and processes”
While bio-sourced materials show promising potential, they also present challenges. “Compared to traditional materials, they are more sensitive to humidity and temperature, which can affect their RF performance,” says Ferial. This means these materials need serious evaluation to ensure they not only meet industry standards but can also be produced using existing equipment and processes.
In collaboration with Arduino, another partner of the DESIRE4EU project, Ferial is developing a miniaturized monopole antenna for integration into a bio-sourced Arduino board. This project presents real challenges due to the limited space available on the board and the need for precise impedance matching.
Ferial’s work, at the intersection of materials science, RF electronics, and sustainable innovation, is advancing the development of biodegradable RF PCBs. These efforts aim to create fully functional, compact, and greener wireless modules, a step forward in making high-tech solutions more environmentally friendly.
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