The Role of PEDOT Deposition in the Fabrication of Flexible RF Sensors

Abstract

This paper explores the integration of Poly(3,4)-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), a conductive polymer, into high-frequency (HF) RFID tags for real-time sensing applications. By modeling PEDOT as a material with variable conductivity, the study investigates three deposition strategies: partial replacement of metallic traces, selective application to specific regions, and full tag coating. The impact of PEDOT molecular organization and deposition technique on sensor performance is analyzed to optimize functionality. The proposed sensor is cost-effective, scalable, and fully compatible with existing 13.56 MHz RFID infrastructure. Experimental evaluations and numerical simulations confirm its ability to precisely modulate the tag frequency response based on environmental stimuli. Key applications include logistics, healthcare, IoT systems, and environmental monitoring, enabling advanced tracking, temperature integrity control, and sustainability. Building on preliminary simulations, this work advances to rigorous experimental validation, demonstrating the potential of organic semiconductor-based RFID sensors as a transformative solution for high-sensitivity, real-time monitoring in industrial and commercial settings.