Battery-free wireless sensors

Global Research has announced a battery-free, multi-detection radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensing platform that could enable a wide range of wireless sensing products in healthcare, food packaging, water treatment and pollution prevention.

The sensing platform, in which a single sensor can provide a selective response to multiple chemicals under variable conditions, operates without a battery. This allows the sensors to be smaller than a 10-cent piece and manufactured at low cost. Applications could include: sensors that can more effectively detect dangerous chemical and biological threats; in-the-field water purification monitoring; food and beverage safety monitoring; portable vaccine manufacturing; and emissions monitoring at power plants.

The RFID sensors use a conventional RFID tag, but are coated with a chemically or biologically sensitive film. The sensor reader can obtain several varied responses, which allows the sensor to identify and measure individual chemicals in different mixtures and variable conditions. The sensors can detect trace concentrations of toxic gases such as toxic industrial chemicals (TICs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and chemicals in liquids.

To operate without batteries, the power is obtained wirelessly from the sensor reader. The reader activates the sensor antenna and the RFID chip and collects several response data parameters, providing the ability to selectively detect different chemicals with an individual sensor.