Millimeter‐wave frequency reconfigurable antenna using simple VO 2 ‐based paired metasurface

Abstract

In this article, a millimeter-wave frequency-reconfigurable metasurface antenna by electrically controlling vanadium dioxide (VO2) is proposed and studied. As a phase change material, VO2 is an insulator at room temperature but can turn into high conductivity metallic state when activated by continuous direct current (DC) voltage. By integrating the VO2 film between two simple rectangle metasurface cells, a frequency-reconfigurable paired metasurface structure (FRPMS) is achieved. The FRPMS can be considered as one unit when VO2 film is activated to metallic state while as two independent cells when VO2 film is in insulating state. In this way, the FRPMS can operate, respectively at 28 and 38 GHz with independent tunability. Moreover, a coplanar and staggered DC bias circuit with little effect on radiation is designed to switch the operating modes of VO2 easily. The antenna is fed by a stepped waveguide with ridges through a loop slot, which is suitable for dual-band feeding with large frequency ratio. One prototype is fabricated and measured for demonstration. When the VO2 film is in metallic state, the measured working band covers from 28.5 to 29.6 GHz with the maximum gain of about 7.1 dBi. When cooled down to insulating state, the antenna can work in a higher band from 36.7 to 38.3 GHz with the maximum gain of about 7.9 dBi. Due to the advantages of simple structure, high gain and easy tuning, the antenna can be expected to use in mmW wireless communication.