Numerical Studies of Optimized Designs for Carbon Nanotube Microstrip Antennas

Abstract

We perform systematic numerical simulations for carbon nanotube (CNT) film microstrip antennas to fabricate flexible and durable applications in terms of various device design parameters. The selection of appropriate materials for conductive films and a substrate of the conformable and robust microstrip antennas are crucial to increase the radiation efficiency and to reduce the losses while maintaining the mechanical properties. CNTs have been spotlighted as a promising nanomaterial, exhibiting excellent electrical and mechanical performances as desirable features for microwave wearable devices. Considering the material properties of the conductor and the substrate, we examine the possible ranges of the CNT film conductivities, conductive film thickness, and a dielectric constant and thickness of a substrate. Furthermore, we model non-uniform spatial distributions of conductivity in the CNT film to assess their impact on the antenna performance. Our extensive studies of material constants and conductivity spatial patterns propose design guidelines for optimal microstrip antennas made of CNT conductive films operating in microwave frequencies.