A Gain-Enhanced Slotted Patch Antenna Using Metasurface as Superstrate Configuration

In this paper, a novel, compact, high-gain, directive, and superstrate configuration-based metasurface (MS) antenna has been designed, which incorporates a fractal-shaped slotted patch having a periodic arrangement of square patches along with a shorting via at its center and a couple of rectangular slots in the ground plane. The MS is designed over the FR4 dielectric by introducing a periodic arrangement of unit cells in which the unit cell is structured by a C-type patterned patch in the center surrounded by a couple of L-type-shaped patches. The MS is separated by a layer of Teflon from the conventional patch antenna designed over the FR4 dielectric, thereby acting as a superstrate. The proposed antenna provides good impedance matching across the frequency region of 10.14–10.94 GHz with a unidirectional radiation pattern. A fractional bandwidth of 7.6% and a maximum return loss of 24 dB have been realized at 10.44 GHz. The measured realized gain of 7.57 dBi was obtained at the same operating frequency. As the proposed antenna is more efficient, it can be promoted for $X$ -band operations, such as satellite communication, defense purpose, and medical supervision.