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Comparative analysis of printed electronics technologies in RF and microwave circuits.
Saeedeh Lotfi1, Martin Janda2, Jan Reboun2
1Department of Materials and Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic. saeedelotfi65@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|November 11, 2025
Summary
Printed electronics offer cost-effective, flexible microwave circuit prototyping. This study evaluates Direct-Write, Screen Printing, and Aerosol Jet Printing for fabricating low-pass filters, confirming their viability for high-frequency applications.
Area of Science:
- Electrical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Printed electronics (PE) provide a cost-effective, flexible alternative to traditional photolithography for fabricating electronic components.
- High-frequency microwave applications benefit significantly from PE's rapid prototyping capabilities and reduced material waste.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, fabricate, and evaluate microstrip low-pass filters (LPFs) using three distinct additive manufacturing techniques.
- To assess the performance of LPFs fabricated via Direct-Write (DW), Screen Printing (SP), and Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) for microwave circuits.
Main Methods:
- Electromagnetic simulations and LC equivalent circuit modeling were employed for LPF design and analysis.
- Over 60 LPF samples were fabricated using DW, SP, and AJP techniques.
- Electrical performance was evaluated through measured frequency responses.
Main Results:
- Measured frequency responses of the fabricated LPFs showed strong agreement with simulation results, validating all three printing methods.
- Each printing technique exhibited unique trade-offs concerning resolution, fabrication complexity, and electrical performance.
- The study successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using DW, SP, and AJP for creating functional microwave components.
Conclusions:
- Additive manufacturing techniques are effective for fabricating RF and microwave circuits using printed electronics.
- Method selection for PE fabrication should be tailored to specific application requirements based on performance trade-offs.
- This research provides practical insights for researchers designing and fabricating high-frequency circuits with printed electronics.
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