Making Microwaves Green: From Life Cycle Assessments to Chipless Solutions

Wireless networks are a major energy consumer; the underlying microwave front-ends are dependent on specialised RFICs/MMICs fabricated in materials and energy-hungry semiconductor processes, and are reliant on a finite resource of Critical Rare Metals (CRMs). This talk introduces directions towards more sustainable wireless RF front-ends, identifying decarbonisation hotspots from ICs to PCBs. An introduction to Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) of microwave electronics will be provided, showing the trade-off between node, cut-off frequency, and embodied carbon. Finally, examples of recyclable and fully “circular” microwave devices will be showcased, demonstrating ways of re-using ICs and recovering CRMs, from microwave circuits, using novel board and package-level solutions. Approaches to chipless sensing and how they can aid sustainability will also be discussed.