Executive Summary : | Interest in reconfigurable RF devices has grown in recent years, as they can accomplish multiple goals with fewer devices and a smaller footprint. Current methods for reconfigurable devices include electronic components like PIN diodes, radio frequency micro electromechanical systems, and varactors, which require complex DC biasing circuits and high losses. Optical tuning offers faster response time but is bulky, while mechanical tuning has high power handling capabilities but a delayed response time and is difficult to integrate. Ferrites and ferroelectrics allow tuning and miniaturization, but their usage has been limited due to high DC power consumption and complex biasing networks. Liquid materials are a novel approach for reconfigurable devices due to their high reversible nature, allowing them to endure mechanical deformation and revert to their original shape. Current lithography-based manufacturing processes are expensive, produce harmful byproducts, and take longer to fabricate prototypes. 3D printing processes could be a potential solution, offering cheaper setup costs, faster repeatable outputs, and reduced environmental impact. This proposal aims to address the demands of next-generation 6G devices, which require RF components with unique tunability and compactness qualities using 3D printing. However, several limitations need to be resolved before these advanced microwave components can be printed in a 3D fashion. The proposed study explores unique concepts for developing a completely 3D-built liquid reconfigurable device for millimeter wave and 6G applications. |