Undergraduate Honor Thesis Research Project Proposal

Flexible Sensors Integrated with Fabric-Based Batteries and Antennas

Feb. 12, 2018

( @[Link])

Advisor: Professor ( @[Link])

The Ohio State University

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Abstract
Wearable electronic devices reported to date are typically powered by batteries and

are connected to rigid copper-based antennas for wireless transmission. As such, existing

wearables are bulky, non-flexible, and need to be frequently charged or have their batteries

replaced. To address these challenges, we propose a new class of wearable electronics that

use fabric electrochemistry and conductive textiles to realize flexible batteries and antennas,

respectively. The proposed electrochemical fabrics employ silver- and zinc-based dots to

serve as the battery’s cathode and anode electrodes, with a saline solution (such as sweat)

acting as the electrolyte. Several of these dot pairs can be inter-connected to boost the

realized voltage and current levels, and, eventually, used to power devices such as RFIDs,

temperature sensors, etc. For wireless transmission of the sensed parameters, fully-flexible

textile antennas can be realized via embroidery of conductive E-threads. The goal of this

research is to demonstrate a fully-integrated flexible sensor, that will include both a flexible

battery and a flexible textile antenna as described above.

Problem Statement: Conventional wearable electronics require batteries for powering and

copper-based antennas for wireless communication. However, such batteries are bulky and

require frequent recharging and/or replacement [1], while copper-based antennas are rigid,

heavy, and obtrusive [2]. Research to date has already demonstrated a proof-of-concept fabric

capable of generating DC power (voltage and current). However, this fabric exhibits only a

single battery cell, implying low voltage/current levels that are not capable of powering

real-world sensors. Also, research to date has demonstrated embroidery of flexible E-textile

antennas. However, these antennas have yet to be integrated into fully-flexible sensor

solutions. Thus, further research is needed to realize fabrics with scalable power generation

capabilities, and further integrate them with flexible antennas and sensors.

Shortcomings to date: Flexible electronics, including flexible batteries and flexible antennas,

is a new field that needs insightful research. Solar energy harvesters have been reported to

eliminate batteries, but they take up a large surface area, require bulky and rigid

panels/circuity, and can only collect energy at certain times of the day. Radio-Frequency (RF)

power harvesters are another reported solution of eliminating batteries, but require close

proximity to a radiating source, exhibit low efficiency, and require rigid circuity to

accomplish AC-to-DC conversion. When it comes to antennas, the state-of-the-art entails

rigid copper-based solutions. Expectedly, these are unsuitable for wearable applications since

they are heavy, easy to break, obtrusive, and non-washable.

Previous related research: Previous research conducted at Ohio State’s ElectroScience Lab

(ESL) has demonstrated a proof-of-concept electrochemical fabric, capable of generating DC

made of sliver and zinc to serve as the battery’s cathode and

anode respectively. When the fabric is exposed to a

conductive liquid electrolyte (sweat, saline solution, etc.),

silver acts as the positive electrode (cathode) being reduced,

antennas embroidered via conductive E-threads.

Key facts: Problems at-hand may be summarized as follows: (1) Power levels generated by

the existing electrochemical fabric are low (μW), while most sensors require power in the

mW range. (2) The electrochemical fabric has yet to be integrated with a wireless sensor.

Interfacing solutions need to be explored. (3) Flexible textile antennas have been

demonstrated as stand-along, but integration with flexible batteries and sensors has yet to be

demonstrated.

Importance: Flexible electrochemical fabrics with scalable power generation capabilities will,

eventually, enable powering of any wearable/conformal sensor, regardless of power

requirements. Integrated flexible battery/antenna solutions will bring forward a new class of

wearables that are unobtrusive to the wearer. In turn, this promises a whole new realm of

applications for wearable electronics (e.g., wound detection sensors).

Significance

The proposed research relates to a new method of power generation for wearable

electronics via fabric electrochemistry, which can be, eventually, integrated with textile
antennas to enable fully-flexible wireless sensor prototypes. In turn, this will eliminate issues

with existing technologies that require bulky batteries, low-efficiency harvesters, and/or rigid

antennas. This new class of wearables can be applied to multiple fields such as sports,

military, healthcare, emergency, space, and child monitoring, among others. Importantly, the

proposed research brings forward an inter-disciplinary approach to realize the intended goals

[3]. That is, circuit concepts (Ohm’s law, voltage source modeling, impedance reduction

techniques, etc.) are brought together with electrochemistry/materials concepts (redox

reactions, Galvanostatic analysis, etc.), and electromagnetics (antenna design) to form the

envisioned fully-integrated flexible sensors.

Research goals

Hypothesis and Objectives: It is hypothesized that flexible inter-connections between

multiple battery cells can help boost the generated voltage/current levels on the

electrochemical fabric. Such inter-connections could be realized via embroidery of

fully-flexible and conductive E-threads instead. It is also hypothesized that electrochemical

fabrics can be integrated with flexible embroidered antennas and sensors to realize packaged

fully-flexible wireless sensor solutions.

Topics to be Resolved: It is anticipated, that, by the end of this research, scalable power

generation capabilities will be demonstrated via fabric electrochemistry. It is also anticipated

that fully-integrated solutions will be demonstrated that include flexible fabrics to realize the

battery and antenna components. Further, a weak electrolyte (such as human sweat) is needed

for this research, which might imply a requirement of changing the existing cathode/anode

chemistry (tests to date used a strong electrolyte, 10M NaOH, which is far beyond the
biological conditions). Finally, low-power sensors with antenna/battery integration

capabilities need to be identified (such as battery-enabled RFIDs).

Multiple Investigator Group: This research is a cross-field collaboration between the ECE

and Chemistry Depts at Ohio State, under the instruction by Prof. and Prof.

, respectively. The chemical lab will provide assistance in formulating the

cathode/anode slurries, while I will be responsible for inter-connecting the cells,

demonstrating scalable power generation, designing/fabricating the antenna, and building

fully-integrated sensor prototypes.

Methodology

 To boost the power capability of the electrochemical fabric, multiple cathode-anode pairs

will be “printed”, and will further be inter-connected in series and/or in parallel. In doing so,

the voltage and/or current can be, respectively, boosted.

 Another topic to be resolved relates to the solution used to serve as an electrolyte. To

date, only strong electrolytes have been explored (10M NaOH), yet biological solutions are

far less conductive. Therefore, tests will be performed for the flexible battery under biological

conditions (weak electrolyte such as 0.5M NaCl or a biological buffer solution known as

DPBS) is proposed [3].

 Low-power sensors will need to be identified next, which will be, eventually, powered

through the developed fabrics. Battery-enabled RFIDs will be explored first. The RFID tag

will be connected directly to the fabric for powering, while a remote RFID reader will read

the associated information stored within the tag. Besides the requirement for low power

consumption, it is also critical for the RFID to have an easily removable battery. In doing so,
Personal Statement

As an Electrical Computer Engineering student to graduate with my BSc degree in May 2019,

I take several core major courses, which enhance my understanding of ECE and its

applications in real-life environments this year. I will apply for graduate school to fulfill my

eagerness of exploiting the field of ECE that I am devoted to. I have already discussed with

Prof. and have visited the ElectroScience Lab (ESL). Learning how to operate lab

equipment, such as an E-textile embroidery machine, enables me to better prepare for

research. Handling tools and grasping concepts like wireless testing (e.g., measuring radiation

patterns) broadens my horizons and provides me with new experiences.

[1] Kiourti, Asimina, Cedric Lee, and John L. Volakis. "Fabrication of Textile Antennas and

Circuits with 0.1 Mm Precision." Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. 15 (2016):

151-153. Print.

[2]Elayan, Hadeel, et al. “Wireless sensors for medical applications: Current status and future

challenges.” 2017 11th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP), 2017,

doi:10.23919/eucap.2017.7928405.

[3]Vilkhu, Ramandeep, Brock DeLong, Asimina Kiourti, Ghatak P. Das, Shomita

Mathew-Steiner, and Chandan K. Sen. "Power Harvesting for Wearable Electronics Using

Fabric Electrochemistry." (2017): 213-214. Print.

[4] Kiourti, Asimina, and John L. Volakis. "High-geometrical-accuracy Embroidery Process

for Textile Antennas with Fine Details." Ieee Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. 14

(2015): 1474-1477. Print.

[5] Zhong, Jingni, Asimina Kiourti, Tom Sebastian, Yakup Bayram, and John L. Volakis.

"Conformal Load-Bearing Spiral Antenna on Conductive Textile Threads." Ieee Antennas and

Wireless Propagation Letters. 16 (2017): 230-233. Print.