Fabrication of High Radiation Efficiency Dielectric Resonator Antenna Array Using Temperature Stable 0.8Zn2SiO4‐0.2TiO2 Microwave Dielectric Ceramic

Abstract

AbstractArray antenna is of great significance in realizing the Sub‐6 GHz fifth‐generation (5G) mobile communication systems, however, its utilization in the base station systems implementation is limited due to high power consumption. In this paper, a high radiation efficiency 4 × 4 cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (CDRA) array fabricated using the temperature stable 0.8Zn2SiO4‐0.2TiO2 composite ceramic is proposed. TiO2‐doped Zn2SiO4 composite ceramics are synthesized by the conventional solid‐state method. Notably, 0.8Zn2SiO4‐0.2TiO2 composite ceramic sintered at 1250 °C demonstrates excellent microwave dielectric properties with dielectric constant (εr ≈ 8.24), high‐quality factor (Q × f ≈ 35 000@8.08GHz), and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF ≈ +4.6 ppm °C−1). Moreover, the composite ceramic CDRA array is designed by exciting fundamental HE11δ mode using the aperture coupling microstrip feeding network. The fabricated composite ceramic based 4 × 4 CDRA array has enhanced measured radiation efficiency of up to 87%, high gain of 17.85 dBi and is a promising candidate for utilization in Sub‐6 GHz 5G Base Station communications systems.