A Novel Partially Reflective Layer for Improving the Performance of X-Band Printed Antennas

This paper presents a novel partially reflective layer (PRL) for improving the impedance and the 3-dB gain bandwidths of a printed antenna operating in X-band. The proposed PRL is constructed by two arrays of two different partially reflective unit-cells (PRUCs) arranged on both faces of the same substrate. The PRL is used as a superstrate over a dual-layer printed antenna. Broader impedance and 3-dB gain bandwidths of about 39.25 % and 41.13% are achieved. Thus, the designed single-layer PRL is very useful for boosting the 3-dB gain and the impedance bandwidths of X-band printed antennas.