Applied Sciences (Mar 2019)

A 60-GHz Ultra-Thin and Flexible Metasurface for Frequency-Selective Wireless Applications

  • Syeda Fizzah Jilani,
  • Oluyemi P. Falade,
  • Tom Wildsmith,
  • Paul Reip,
  • Akram Alomainy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app9050945
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 5
p. 945

Abstract

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This paper demonstrates a design, fabrication and performance evaluation of a frequency selective 60-GHz flexible metasurface in order to facilitate an unobstructed, secure, and low-loss high-frequency signal propagation. The high-attenuation 60 GHz millimeter-wave (MMW) band is selected for the design of a broadband metasurface. The symmetric metasurface unit-cell structure comprises of an assembly of a circular metallic ring embedded with a square-shaped ring. The screen printing process is deployed to perform fabrication of the metasurface on flexible films by means of highly-conductive nanoparticle copper pastes. Electromagnetic (EM) characteristics of the proposed structure are examined by using the quasi-optic bench testing facility in order to validate its potential contribution in the high data-rate communication links. The proposed ultra-thin and flexible metasurface can be integrated on walls and windows as wallpaper to enhance the wireless signal propagation in highly-dense indoor scenarios.

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