Researchers from the University of Manchester, together with graphene manufacturer BGT Materials, have used compressed graphene ink to print an RF antenna measuring 14cm × 3.5mm onto a piece of paper. According to the team, the antenna performed well enough to make it practical for use in RFID tags and wireless sensors. Graphene ink is usually made by mixing graphene flakes with a solvent, and sometimes a binder such as ethyl cellulose. However, the team found that when a binder free ink was printed and dried, then compressed with a roller, graphene's conductivity was boosted by more than 50 times. The tags are likely to reduce the cost of RFID tags 'significantly', according to the research team.
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