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P04 / scientific study / published

Free-Space Microwave Characterization of CNT/Epoxy

Patch antennas and VNA measurements used to distinguish nanocomposite electromagnetic response across antenna field regions.

2020-2024Northumbria University, United Kingdom
ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING PATHFree-Space Microwave Characterization of CNT/Epoxy
01RF EXCITATIONpatch / horn antenna
02RESONANT FIELDchipless structure / material interaction
03SCATTERINGreturn / transmission / RCS
04MEASUREMENTVNA / NanoVNA / anechoic chamber
05SENSING RESULTresonance shift / material response

Block diagram connecting excitation, interaction, measurement and interpretation.

01

Problem or Industrial Need

CNT concentration changes electrical and dielectric behaviour, but a contactless method is needed to assess how those changes alter microwave response.

02

Engineering or Scientific Solution

A free-space patch-antenna characterization method combining VNA measurements with finite-element electromagnetic analysis.

03

Sebastian's Technical Contribution

Performed experimental and numerical analysis of return-loss behaviour across reactive near-field, radiating near-field and far-field regions.

04

Methods and Tools Used

  • Patch-antenna free-space measurements
  • Vector network analyzer return-loss acquisition
  • Antenna field-region analysis
  • Finite-element electromagnetic modelling in CST
05

Prototype, Simulation and Experimental Evidence

experiment

Free-space RF measurements

CNT/epoxy specimens were evaluated using patch antennas and VNA acquisition.

simulation

Maxwell-equation model

Finite-element models connected electrical material properties with return-loss behaviour.

publication

Nanoarchitectonics 2023

Peer-reviewed research article and reported experimental findings.

06

Measurable Result or Published Finding

Distinct field-region behaviour

The study reported CNT-dependent return-loss changes and agreement between experiment and numerical analysis.

07

Diagrams and Publications

ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING PATHFree-Space Microwave Characterization of CNT/Epoxy
01RF EXCITATIONpatch / horn antenna
02RESONANT FIELDchipless structure / material interaction
03SCATTERINGreturn / transmission / RCS
04MEASUREMENTVNA / NanoVNA / anechoic chamber
05SENSING RESULTresonance shift / material response

Block diagram connecting excitation, interaction, measurement and interpretation.

08

Role, Team Attribution, Institution and Project Context

Lead author and Doctoral Researcher; experimental investigation, formal analysis, software and writing.

Connected work

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Portable Microwave and Passive Wireless Sensing Platform

Problem
Conventional material-health assessment can require contact, disassembly or laboratory processing that limits continuous industrial monitoring.
Solution
A portable non-contact microwave sensing architecture that links passive RF structures, instrumentation, controlled positioning and computational analysis.
Evidence / result
1 integrated portable platform
RF architectureVNAchipless resonatorsPython
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P052020-2024

Contactless Characterization under Acid Exposure

Problem
Chemical penetration can degrade CNT/epoxy structures while conventional inspection may require disassembly and extensive processing.
Solution
A contactless wireless method using microstrip-antenna scattering parameters, supported by multiscale electrical and porosity models.
Evidence / result
Wireless degradation signal
acid diffusionS11/S21VNAmultiscale modelling
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P062020-2024

Acid Diffusion, Mechanical Response and Wireless SHM

Problem
Harsh chemical environments create degradation gradients that require both local and bulk characterization to understand structural condition.
Solution
A combined mechanical and electromagnetic study using DMA, nanoindentation and VNA measurements across CNT concentration and acid exposure.
Evidence / result
Cross-domain measurement agreement
DMAnanoindentationVNAacid diffusion
View system