Programmable Microwave Hardware Based on Liquid Wires (PROGRAMMABLE)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Electronic, Electrical and Computer Eng
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Huang M
(2021)
Highly Integrated PA-PIFA With a Wide Frequency Tuning Range
in IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters
Gao Y
(2022)
Diamond NV Centers Based Quantum Sensor Using a VCO Integrated With Filtering Antenna
in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement
Alkaraki S.
(2022)
Liquid Metal Enabled SIW Vias and RF Blocking Walls for Reconfigurable Antennas
in 2022 16th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2022
Alkaraki S
(2023)
10-GHz Low-Loss Liquid Metal SIW Phase Shifter for Phased Array Antennas
in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Lu H
(2023)
Nanoengineering Liquid Metal Core-Shell Nanostructures
in Advanced Functional Materials
Timosina V
(2023)
A Non-Newtonian liquid metal enabled enhanced electrography.
in Biosensors & bioelectronics
Yun G
(2023)
Electro-mechano responsive elastomers with self-tunable conductivity and stiffness.
in Science advances
Wu Y
(2023)
Liquid Metal-Based Tunable Linear Phase Shifters With Low Insertion Loss, High Phase Resolution, and Low Dispersion
in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Wu Y
(2023)
Circuits and Antennas Incorporating Gallium-Based Liquid Metal
in Proceedings of the IEEE
Li G
(2023)
Recent advancements in liquid metal enabled flexible and wearable biosensors
in Soft Science
Ge D
(2023)
Pump-valve dual-functional liquid metal soft actuators
in Cell Reports Physical Science
Wu Y
(2024)
Liquid Metal-Enabled Filtering Switches and Switchplexers
in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Zheng J
(2024)
An automated and intelligent microfluidic platform for microalgae detection and monitoring.
in Lab on a chip
Wu Y
(2024)
A Liquid-Metal-Enabled Reconfigurable Feed Network for Multipolarization Arrays
in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Wu Y
(2024)
Dual-Band Omnidirectional Scanning Array using Liquid Metal-Enabled Reflection-Type Phase Shifters
in IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
Zhang Y
(2025)
An off-chip platform for on-demand, single-target encapsulation for ultrasensitive biomarker detection.
in Biosensors & bioelectronics
| Description | The fluidic and shape shifting properties of gallium-based liquid metals have been utilised in reconfiguring and programming microwave devices to generate multiple, adjustable or adaptive functionalities. To integrated with traditional solid state devices, the liquid metals are contained in microfluidic channels. The fabrication processes for microfluidic channels were first established using soft lithography and 3D printing techniques. A number of liquid metal enabled novel devices have been demonstrated. This includes: (1) A high-performance tunable phase shifter based on a novel via-pad-slot (VPS) structure and liquid-metal enabled tuning mechanism. The phase shifter shows low loss (therefore high efficiency), high phase resolution and low dispersion, surpassing traditional phase shifters. A patent has been submitted based on this work. (2) A cluster of liquid metal enabled switches, switching filters and switchplexers by exploring the new tuning and programming capabilities offered by liquid metals. (3) An antenna array with full polarisation reconfigurability between four polarisation states using a liquid metal enabled reconfigurable feed network. The work demonstrated the unique capability of liquid metal in changing the width of microwave transmission lines and a novel functionally-reconfigurable coupler that can transform between a hybrid coupler and a cross over. (4) A dual-band scanning array using liquid metal enabled reflection-type phase shifters. This is a large complex antenna system that can operate over two frequency bands with beam scanning. A new phase shifter technology was implemented. |
| Exploitation Route | (1) Demonstrated device technologies taken up by other academic researchers. We have already seen an increase in the research activities in the use of liquid metals in high frequency devices. (2) Patent taken up by industry. (3) Technology developed in this grant being extended to other areas such as flexible electronics and sensors. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | 6G-REFERENCE: 6G haRdware Enablers For cEll fRee cohEreNt Communications & sEnsing |
| Amount | £3,878,300 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | UKRI Reference Number: 10096702 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | Collaboration with Cardiff University |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Liquid metal phase shifter technology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Amplifier; high power measurement |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Queen Mary University London |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sharing ideas and sharing facility |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sharing ideas and sharing facility |
| Impact | Joint publication, joint grant application |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Liverpool |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Have proposed the collaboration |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided facility access for specialist measurement |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Title | CONTROLLABLE RF DEVICE |
| Description | The present invention relates to a controllable RF device such as a phase shifter, and to a method of controlling RF signals (for example shifting the phase of a signal). |
| IP Reference | GB2216814.0 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Patent was filled on 10 Nov 2022. |
| Description | Invited talk in IMOC 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation at IMOC, Barcelona, 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |