This research presents a novel four-port metamaterial-backed Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna system designed for X-band applications. Each modified circular-shaped antenna element is meticulously printed on a 1.6 mm thick FR4 substrate, resonating within the 9.2 to 9.9 GHz frequency range, encompassing a significant portion of the X-band spectrum. To enhance overall gain, a tilted square-shaped 4 × 4-unit cell is strategically printed on the ground plane of the substrate. The proposed MIMO antenna achieves a maximum gain of up to 8 dBi across the operating spectrum, coupled with an impressive radiation efficiency of up to 80%. Fabrication of the designed antenna is performed, and comprehensive parameter measurements validate its performance, exhibiting a close correlation with simulated results. Essential MIMO parameters such as ECC (<0.01), TARC (>10 dB), CCL (<0.3), and diversity gain are calculated to affirm the antenna’s proficiency further. The results show that the proposed antenna could be a suitable contender for X-band applications.
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