Miniaturized 5G Antenna With Enhanced Gain by Using Stacked Structure of Split-Ring Resonator Array and Magneto-Dielectric Composite Material

The need for antennas with small dimensions with high performance has prompted various research to conduct experiments in terms of the structure and shape of the antenna and terms of material. This study proposes utilizing both artificially and engineered magneto-dielectric (MD) materials’ characteristics to miniaturize antenna dimension and improve antenna performance. The MD characteristics are realized through the SRR array structure as an antenna performance enhancer; and material synthesis as an antenna dimension reducer. MD material has been successfully synthesized, extracted, and characterized from a mixture of magnetite powder (Fe
₃
O
₄
), PDMS elastic polymer material (polydimethylsiloxane), and BaFe
₁₂
O
₁₉
. The parametric study results show that the antenna designed on MD material Sample C (PDMS: Fe
₃
O
₄
=1: 0.6) with a 3
$\times $
3 SRR configuration gives the most optimal response. Simulations, optimizations, and measurements have been carried out to obtain an MD antenna that works at a frequency of 3.5 GHz, with a fractional bandwidth of 10% (360 MHz), radiation efficiency of 58.54%, and a maximum gain of up to 4.33 dBi. This antenna measures 30
$\times30$
mm or 64% smaller than conventional antennas. The proposed stacked MD antenna is compatible with 5G technology in the mid-band frequency range.