A Comprehensive Survey of “Metamaterial Transmission-Line Based Antennas: Design, Challenges, and Applications”

Abstract

In this review paper, a comprehensive study on the concept, theory, and applications of composite right/left-handed transmission lines (CRLH-TLs) by considering their use in antenna system designs have been provided. It is shown that CRLH-TLs with negative permittivity and negative permeability have unique properties that do not occur naturally. Therefore, they are referred to as artificial structures called "metamaterials". These artificial structures include series left-handed (LH) capacitances , shunt LH inductances , series right-handed (RH) inductances , and shunt RH capacitances that are realized by slots or interdigital capacitors, stubs or via-holes, unwanted current flowing on the surface, and gap distance between the surface and ground-plane, respectively. In the most cases, it is also shown that structures based on CRLH metamaterial-TLs are superior than their conventional alternatives, since they have smaller dimensions, lower-profile, wider bandwidth, better radiation patterns, higher gain and efficiency, which make them easier and more cost-effective to manufacture and mass produce. Hence, a broad range of metamaterial-based design possibilities are introduced to highlight the improvement of the performance parameters that are rare and not often discussed in available literature. Therefore, this survey provides a wide overview of key early-stage concepts of metematerial-based designs as a thorough reference for specialist antennas and microwave circuits designers. To analyze the critical features of metamaterial theory and concept, several examples are used. Comparisons on the basis of physical size, bandwidth, materials, gain, efficiency, and radiation patterns are made for all the examples that are based on CRLH metamaterial-TLs. As revealed in all the metematerial design examples, footprint area decrement is an important issue of study that have a strong impact for the enlargement of the next generation wireless communication systems.

A Triple-Band Antenna With a Metamaterial Slab for Gain Enhancement and Specific Absorption Rate (Sar) Reduction

“…Radiating stubs and slots [6][7][8] offer additional band creation corresponding to their dimensions. Metamaterial based resonators and CRLH unit cells [9][10][11][12] are also employed in extra band conception by satisfying the properties of negative permeability or permittivity. The literature illustrates the design of several metamaterials and metasurfaces for antenna design for several applications like achieving wide bandwidth [13][14][15][16], miniaturization [17], travelling wave antenna [18], UHF-SHF band applications [19], and UWB wireless transceivers [20][21][22].…”

A Metasurface Based Gain Enhanced Dual Band Patch Antenna Using SRRs With Defected Ground Structure

“…These structure can be easily integrated and controllable with a planar antenna to form new applications (Alibakhshi‐Kenari et al., 2016b; Alibakhshikenari et al., 2017; Alibakhshikenari et al., 2018c; Alibakhshikenari, Viree, See, Raed, et al., 2020). The influence of metasurface antenna (MSA) is more owing to the multifunctional behavior viz., low profile, flexible, inexpensive, ease of integration and fabrication, isolation enhancement, backfire to endfire beam scanning capabilities, wideband and high gain with directive radiation characteristics (Alibakhshi‐Kenari et al., 2012; Alibakhshi‐Kenari et al., 2016b; Alibakhshikenari et al., 2017; Alibakhshikenari et al., 2018d; Alibakhshikenari et al., 2018e; Alibakhshikenari et al., 2018b; Alibakhshikenari, Virdee, Shukla, et al., 2019; Alibakhshikenari, Virdee, See, et al., 2019; Alibakhshikenari, Virdee, Shukla, Parchin, et al., 2020; Alibakhshikenari, Virdee, Azpilicueta, et al., 2020; Alibakhshikenari & Virdee, 2019; Feresidis et al., 2005; Holloway et al., 2012; W. Ciu, Cheng, & Qing, 2015, W. E. I. Z. Liu et al., 2017; Y. Liu & Zhao, 2014; Malekpoor & Jam, 2016; Samantaray & Bhattacharyya, 2020; Zheng, Gao, Zhou, Cao, Xu, et al., 2017).…”

Realizing UWB Antenna Array with Dual and Wide Rejection Bands Using Metamaterial and Electromagnetic Bandgaps Techniques

“…UWB antennas are an essential component of UWB systems providing low power dissipation and large impedance bandwidth. Characteristics sought after in UWB antennas include small form factor, desired radiation characteristics, and cost effectiveness [ 1 , 2 ].…”