Antennas based on a conductive polymer composite and methods for production thereof

• US 8,248,305 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Houston (University of Houston System)
• Original Assignee: University of Houston (University of Houston System)
• Inventors: Curran, Seamus, Talla, Jamal, Dias, Sampath
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US12/474,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 343701-703, 343/700.MS, 343/700.R, 343/904, 73774-777
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/24 the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142

Abstract

The present disclosure describes antennas based on a conductive polymer composite as replacements for metallic antennas. The antennas include a non-conductive support structure and a conductive composite layer deposited on the non-conductive support structure. The conductive composite includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a polymer. Each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in contact with at least one other of the plurality of carbon nanotubes. The conductive composite layer is operable to receive at least one electromagnetic signal. Other various embodiments of the antennas include a hybrid antenna structure wherein a metallic antenna underbody replaces the non-conductive support structure. In the hybrid antennas, the conductive composite layer acts as an amplifier for the metallic antenna underbody. Methods for producing the antennas and hybrid antennas are also disclosed. Radios, cellular telephones and wireless network cards including the antennas and hybrid antennas are also described.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a non-conductive support structure; and

a conductive composite layer deposited on the non-conductive support structure;

wherein the conductive composite layer comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a polymer;

wherein each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in contact with at least one other of the plurality of carbon nanotubes; and

wherein the conductive composite layer is operable to receive at least one electromagnetic signal.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive support structure comprises a cylinder.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive support structure comprises a hollow tube.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a polycarbonate.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the at least one electromagnetic signal is a radio signal.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein an AC/DC conductivity of the conductive composite layer ranges from about 0.1 to about 10,000 S/cm.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the conductive composite layer is deposited on the non-conductive support structure through a technique selected from the group consisting of dip coating, spin coating, printing, spray depositing, and combinations thereof.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein a concentration of carbon nanotubes in the conductive composite layer ranges from about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent.

28. A radio comprising the antenna of claim 1.

11. An hybrid antenna comprising:

a metallic antenna underbody; and

a conductive composite layer overcoating the metallic antenna underbody;

wherein the conductive composite layer comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a polymer;

wherein each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in contact with at least one other of the plurality of carbon nanotubes; and

wherein the conductive composite layer acts as an amplifier for the metallic antenna underbody.

12. The hybrid antenna of claim 11, wherein the polymer is a polycarbonate.

13. The hybrid antenna of claim 11, wherein the carbon nanotubes are multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

14. The hybrid antenna of claim 11, wherein the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.

15. The hybrid antenna of claim 11, wherein the conductive composite layer is deposited on the metallic antenna underbody through a technique selected from the group consisting of dip coating, spin coating, printing, spray depositing, and combinations thereof.

16. A method for forming an antenna, said method comprising:

providing a non-conductive support structure; and

depositing a conductive composite layer on the non-conductive support structure;

wherein the conductive composite layer comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a polymer;

wherein each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in contact with at least one other of the plurality of carbon nanotubes; and

wherein the conductive composite layer is operable to receive at least one electromagnetic signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the non-conductive support structure comprises a cylinder.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the non-conductive support structure comprises a hollow tube.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the polymer is a polycarbonate.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the carbon nanotubes are multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the depositing step comprises a technique selected from the group consisting of dip coating, spin coating, printing, spray depositing, and combinations thereof.

23. A method for forming a hybrid antenna, said method comprising:

providing a metallic antenna underbody; and

depositing a conductive composite layer on the metallic antenna underbody;

wherein the conductive composite layer comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a polymer;

wherein each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in contact with at least one other of the plurality of carbon nanotubes; and

wherein the conductive composite layer acts as an amplifier for the metallic antenna underbody.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the polymer is a polycarbonate.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the carbon nanotubes are multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the conductive composite layer is deposited on the metallic antenna underbody through a technique selected from the group consisting of dip coating, spin coating, printing, spray depositing, and combinations thereof.