Patent ID: 8692716

Claim:
An antenna, comprising: (a) a substrate treated with a plasma treatment; (b) an antenna member made of a nanoparticle ink having an electrical conductivity about that of copper deposited on the substrate, wherein the antenna member functions as a transducer configured to transmit electromagnetic waves, wherein the antenna member also functions as a sensor and reacts to an external stimulus by changing at least one of conductivity, permittivity, and permeability of the antenna member, wherein the nanoparticle ink comprises conducting nanotubes, and wherein each of the nanotubes has an open end portion including a functional group that is chemically bonded with the functional group of another nanotube of the nanotubes such that the nanotubes in the antenna member are connected through the chemical bonding of the functional groups to form a single conductive structure having a length in an order of centimeters and such that the antenna member operates in the microwave range; and (c) a feeding port attached to the substrate and in contact with the antenna member.