University of Glasgow Develops Sustainable Chipless Tags to Revolutionize RFID Technology and Reduce Electronic Waste

University of Glasgow Develops Sustainable Chipless Tags to Revolutionize RFID Technology and Reduce Electronic Waste

(IN BRIEF) Researchers from the University of Glasgow have developed a new type of wireless, chipless electronic tag designed to replace traditional single-use RFID tags. Using inexpensive materials like PDMS and carbon fibers, the tags can monitor temperatures and transmit data to hand-held readers without the need for microchips, making them more sustainable and cost-effective. These tags could revolutionize industries such as retail, healthcare, and smart clothing, providing an eco-friendly alternative to conventional RFID systems while offering features like temperature and humidity monitoring. Laboratory tests show the tags’ efficiency in real-time monitoring, especially in food safety and medical applications. The research has received support from the EPSRC and the Royal Society and is published in Advanced Science.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 31-Jan-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Researchers from the University of Glasgow have unveiled a new form of wireless electronic tag that promises to reduce the environmental toll of single-use RFID technologies. The innovative system, which avoids the need for microchips, represents a major step forward in sustainable design for the retail sector and beyond.

Unlike traditional RFID tags, which use microchips and are often discarded after a single use, the new tags rely on inexpensive coils and a unique sensing material made from a silicon rubber called PDMS, combined with carbon fibers. These coils, smaller than those used in credit cards, absorb electromagnetic signals from hand-held readers, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to current RFID solutions.

The development team explains that the new tags can store identifying information and monitor temperature, all while remaining low-cost and environmentally friendly. With a price tag under £100 for hand-held readers, the technology could be a game changer for industries that rely on large volumes of RFID tags, such as retail. Currently, over 10 billion RFID tags are used annually, many of which end up in landfills due to inadequate recycling practices.

These advanced tags have the potential to transform product packaging, allowing real-time monitoring of critical factors like temperature, pH, and humidity. This could help retailers track the safety of food products, alerting them to spoilage or contamination risks before they become serious concerns. Furthermore, the flexible nature of the tags means they could be applied in healthcare and smart clothing, offering a discreet method of monitoring vital signs in real-time.

The technology has demonstrated strong performance in laboratory tests, particularly in monitoring temperatures between 20°C and 60°C, a range particularly relevant for food safety and medical applications. The tags react quickly to temperature changes, registering significant shifts in just seconds. In tests, multiple tags were able to communicate with a single reader simultaneously, even from varying distances, further enhancing their potential for real-world applications.

Dr. Mahmoud Wagih, lead author of the study and lecturer at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, emphasized the environmental benefits of eliminating microchips from the equation. “Our chipless tags offer significant advantages in terms of cost and waste reduction compared to traditional RFID sensors. The ability to read multiple sensors simultaneously with a low-cost device makes this technology highly applicable across industries.”

Dr. Benjamin King, co-author and fellow researcher, highlighted the simplicity and scalability of the technology. “The use of inexpensive, widely available materials in our tags could make them more accessible and pave the way for widespread adoption, further reducing the environmental impact of disposable RFID tags.”

This research, titled Large-Area Conductor-Loaded PDMS Flexible Composites for Wireless and Chipless Electromagnetic Multiplexed Temperature Sensors, is published in Advanced Science. The project received support from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Royal Society.

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SOURCE: University of Glasgow