Review of fabrication of SAW sensors on flexible substrates: Challenges and future

Abstract

Surface acoustic waves sensors are based on piezoelectric materials. These sensors are the best choice for sensing purposes due to their unprecedented accuracy. SAW sensors are often used in biochemical sensors, drug production, chemicals agents and gas analytes as sensing devices. These systems are extremely competitive due to their compact size, high thermal efficiency, stability, and capacity to integrate wirelessly. In the past two decades, considerable research has been conducted on the manufacturing of SAW on rigid substrates. These substrates of SAW sensors preclude their use in wearable technologies. The review will cover the research conducted on flexible saw sensors to highlight limitations in this research area for future applications sensors in wearable technology. In the end, future directions and strategies have been discussed to overcome the current challenges.

Keywords

• Surface acoustic waves
• Flexible substrates
• Flexible sensors
• Wearable sensors
• Piezoelectric
• SAW