SURVEY PAPER: NANOFIBERS AS ENABLING PLATFORMS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS – BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NANOMATERIALS AND NANONETWORKS
https://doi.org/10.65725/RPSET/1/1/005
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY (RPSET)
Volume 1 Issue 1, Jan – March 2026
Abstract
The convergence of nanotechnology and wireless communications has given rise to the paradigm of electromagnetic nanonetworks, promising transformative applications in the Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT), smart textiles, and biomedical implants. Concurrently, significant advances have been made in the synthesis and application of functional polymer nanofibers for energy harvesting and sensing. However, a critical disconnect persists between these domains: nanofiber research has largely relegated “communication” to the attachment of macroscopic commercial chips or RFID tags, while nanonetworking theory lacks physical-layer prototypes fabricated from fibrous nanomaterials. This survey critically examines the current landscape of nanofiber-enabled communication systems, analyzing three representative trajectories: nanofiber-powered backscatter communications for 6G IoT, fibre-embedded microcomputer textiles, and nanocomposite films with information encryption. Through a detailed review of 10 seminal papers (2022-2025), we identify that despite compelling demonstrations of energy autonomy and sensing, no study has achieved native electromagnetic transmission or reception using the nanofiber material itself. We articulate the fundamental limitations—material constraints, the antenna-to-fiber form factor mismatch, and the absence of modulation capabilities in polymeric structures—that currently restrict nanofibers to auxiliary power roles. Finally, we propose a future research agenda centered on intrinsically conductive nanofibers, fiber-based radiating structures, and the co-design of materials and communication protocols to realize true nanofiber-based nanonetworks.
Authors: Dr. A Senthil Kumar
Keywords: Nanofibers; Nanonetworks; Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT); Backscatter Communication; Triboelectric Nanogenerators; 6G Wireless Systems