Reconfigurability of graphene-based hexagonal patch operating in the Ku band

Abstract

This paper presents a novel graphene-based impedance reconfigurability approach for Ku-band hexagonal patch antennas, demonstrated at both the single-element and 4×4 array levels. Unlike conventional metallic or diode based reconfigurable antennas, frequency tuning is achieved by exploiting the tunable surface conductivity of graphene integrated into E-shaped slots, without altering the antenna geometry or employing active lumped components. Antenna performance is evaluated using full-wave electromagnetic simulations for two graphene states (“on” state and “off” state), representing distinct surface impedance conditions. The single element exhibits dual resonances at 14.81 GHz and 15 GHz, with reflection coefficients of -52.56 dB and -38.18 dB, bandwidths of 783 MHz and 517 MHz, and a peak gain of 7.8 dBi. The 4×4 array exhibits multiple resonances between 12.5–16.8 GHz (off state) and 12.6–17.15 GHz (on state), achieving bandwidths up to 2750 MHz and a maximum gain of 13.64 dBi. These results demonstrate a scalable, geometry-preserving reconfigurable antenna solution for compact Ku-band systems.