Transparent microstrip antenna made of fluorine doped tin oxide: a comprehensive study

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive investigation on the transparent microstrip patch antenna based on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO). High quality FTO films have been deposited by spray pyrolysis technique and opto-electrical properties of the films were measured. Deposited films show 6.7-8.4 Ω/□ surface resistance and 85% optical transparency. Substrate thickness effect on transparent conductor losses and theoretical transparency analysis using Drude model and thin film transfer matrix (TTM) method has been performed. Microstrip antennas with transparent patch/transparent ground plane, and copper patch/copper ground plane (as reference) for 5 GHz resonance frequency were fabricated, analyzed, and compared. The fabricated microstrip antenna with both transparent patch and ground plane shows 1.72 dBi gain at 5 GHz.

Transparent microstrip line with IZTO/AG/IZTO multilayer electrode

“…Some transparent antennas using TCO have been appeared . Transparent antennas made of the IZTO/Ag/IZTO (IAI) multilayer electrode have higher performances because of the conductivity over 2 × 106 S/m maintaining optical transmittance in the visible wavelength (400–800 nm) .…”

Transparent UWB Antenna with IZTO/Ag/IZTO Multilayer Electrode Film

“…In addition, the proposed transparent antennas satisfy reflection coefficients under −10 dB in the range of UWB. Transparent omnidirectional antennas have higher efficiency than transparent directional antennas, such as a microstrip patch antenna, when it is made of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) [10,16]. Studies for transparent devices will contribute to the development of technology.…”

Transparent Antenna for Green Communication Feature: A Systematic Review on Taxonomy Analysis, Open Challenges, Motivations, Future Directions and Recommendations

“…And as Compact and Transparent Antennas using a plexiglass substrate with AgHT-8 for 5G communication systems [18] , or soda lime glass substrate with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) for wireless local area network (WLAN) [36] . and as Optically Transparent Antennas using glass as a substrate with indium tin oxide (ITO) for solar energy harvesting [29] , or for car network communication application [33] , or using glass as substrate with AZO/AgNWs for Bluetooth communication [44] , or using glass as substrate with AgHT-8 for WLAN [19] and wireless applications [20] , or using glass as substrate with AgHT-4 for Wi-Fi [26] , or using a plexiglass substrate with AgHT-8 for wireless multiple-input and multiple output (MIMO) system [21] and smart devices [24] , or using a polyimide as substrate with TIO Terahertz communication [41] and satellites , radar systems [42] , and using a MWCNT loaded ITO and TIO for Terahertz communication [35] , and using a borosilicate glass substrate with FTO [37] or Pyrex glass substrate with FTO [38] for outdoor applications such as transparent antenna over solar cells , and using a Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) substrate with AgHT-8 thin film for (RFID) tags [22] and UWB home entertainment network [17] , commercial and medical applications [40] , and using a sapphire substrate with gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) thin film for smart city concept [7] , and using a quartz substrate with graphene layers for practical applications [45] , or using Perspex acrylic dielectric substrate with (AgHT-8) thin film for wireless applications [23] , or using a glass substrates with ITO films for millimeter wave bands [30] , or using a plexiglass substrate with AgHT-8 short range multiband versatile wireless applications [28]. And can be as Transparent and Flexible Antennas using glass or polymer as substrate with AZO for window-integrated wireless sensor node [39] , or using a polyimide as substrate with IZTO/Ag/IZTO (IAI) for wearable glasses [46] and using polyamide substrate for computer laptop [3] , or using a Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) substrate with transparent silver nanowire (AgNWs) for automobile window, liquid crystal display, organi...…”