Voltera NOVA Applications: Printed Silver Tattoo Electrodes And Copper RFID Tag

Biomedical electrodes are essential for monitoring the body's internal processes by transforming biological signals into electrical data. However, traditional electrodes often come with drawbacks such as discomfort and movement interference.

Researchers like Yoland El-hajj at York University are revolutionizing this field with innovative solutions. By leveraging silver inks and comparing inkjet and extrusion printing techniques, El-hajj’s team has developed flexible, comfortable electrodes that naturally conform to the body. This cutting-edge approach promises to enhance medical procedures and drive exciting advancements in healthcare. 

Using Voltera’s NOVA materials dispensing system, the team explored various designs to optimize performance and signal quality. El-hajj emphasized that the thinness of tattoo paper opens up numerous possibilities, including integration with prosthetic devices. NOVA streamlines the printing process, making material calibration and pattern alignment more precise and efficient, all while significantly reducing costs and production time compared to other methods like screen printing.

The Voltera team highlights the additive manufacturing process of an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID tag on paper using nano copper ink, which is more environmentally friendly compared to traditional methods.

Using the Voltera’s NOVA materials dispensing system, the team printed an RFID antenna on paper, resulting in a compostable, high-performance tag with lower production costs and waste. With a minimum self-reflection coefficient (S11) of -29.42 dB at 922.50 MHz, the custom-printed RFID tag even outperformed commercial alternatives.

The project showcases NOVA's capabilities for rapid prototyping of printed antennas, and the growing potential of nano copper inks in RFID or NFC applications.