A tunable star-shaped highly sensitive microwave sensor for solid and liquid sensing

Md. Zikrul Bari Chowdhury; Mohammad Tariqul Islam; Ahmed Alzamil; Mohamed S. Soliman; Md. Samsuzzaman

Alexandria Engineering Journal (Jan 2024)

A tunable star-shaped highly sensitive microwave sensor for solid and liquid sensing

Md. Zikrul Bari Chowdhury,
Mohammad Tariqul Islam,
Ahmed Alzamil,
Mohamed S. Soliman,
Md. Samsuzzaman

Affiliations

Md. Zikrul Bari Chowdhury: Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohammad Tariqul Islam: Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author.
Ahmed Alzamil: Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81481, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed S. Soliman: Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Energy Engineering, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt
Md. Samsuzzaman: Department of Computer and Communication Engineering, Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 86
pp. 644 – 662

Abstract

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This paper presents the development of an innovative, tunable star-shaped microwave sensor operating at two distinct frequency bands C and X band, optimized for high-sensitivity sensing of both solid and liquid mediums. The sensor's innovative star-shaped geometry augments the surface interaction with the target substances, significantly enhancing the sensor's response and sensitivity. Furthermore, tunability allows the sensor to adapt to different sensing environments, maximizing the detection potential at both frequencies. This research delves into the sensor's performance when using four different substrates for solid sensing containing FR-4, RO-3035, RO-5880, and RO-6202. Each substrate, characterized by unique electromagnetic properties, contributes differently to the sensor's sensitivity and resolution. The extensive experimental results highlight the sensor's proficiency in detecting and differentiating between these substrates, revealing the impact of material selection on sensor performance. The sensor's ability to distinguish between various liquids, including water, milk, oil, and energy drinks, is evaluated in the liquid sensing scenario. The sensor successfully detects the subtle variances in the electromagnetic properties of these liquids, suggesting its capability for high-resolution liquid sensing. The proposed MTM-based sensor resonates at 4.46 GHz and 11.48 GHz, respectively. Numerical software CST was used to analyze all the parameters. A 3 × 3 array was used in the prototype design, and it was used to measure the C-band resonance frequency. On the other hand, a compact unit cell was used to measure the X-band resonance frequency. The outcomes suggest a substantial potential for this sensor design in various industries and scientific fields, including food quality control, the oil industry, biomedical applications, and environmental monitoring. The unique combination of star-shaped design, tunable frequencies, and various substrates offers unprecedented flexibility and sensitivity in solid and liquid sensing on microwave frequency ranges.

Published in Alexandria Engineering Journal

ISSN: 1110-0168 (Print); 2090-2670 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Egypt
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/alexandria-engineering-journal/

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