Sub-X-band reconfigurable antenna network with graphene slots

Abstract

This paper presents the design and analysis of a graphene-slotted hexagonal microstrip patch antenna and its extension to a compact 4×4 planar array operating in the sub-X-band. The objective of this work is to demonstrate that graphene-based electrical reconfigurability can be extended from a single antenna element to an array configuration while improving radiation performance. The proposed antenna integrates graphene slots etched into the radiating patch, where reconfigurability is achieved by electrically tuning the graphene conductivity through an external gate voltage Vg. The single antenna operates around 9.4 GHz with an impedance bandwidth of 400 MHz and a peak gain of 6 dB. The design is then extended to a 4×4 array with an inter-element spacing of approximately 1.2 wavelengths. The array operates in the 9–10 GHz range, provides a bandwidth of 380 MHz, and achieves a maximum gain of 13.08 dB. The results confirm that graphene-enabled reconfigurability can be preserved at the array level without increasing structural complexity.