VO₂ antennas with metallic inclusions for low‐loss reconfigurable cognitive radios

Abstract

In this article, we demonstrate a reconfigurable antenna concept based upon a film of vanadium dioxide (VO2) with embedded metallic surface inclusions to increase radiation efficiency. We fabricate a monopole antenna with the proposed film, demonstrate a good match between measurement and simulation, and propose methods for increasing performance. We show that the addition of metallic inclusions in the VO2 film results in a 37‐fold increase in the radiation efficiency. This concept, if paired with a spatially addressable micro‐heater array, could enable extremely flexible and low‐loss frequency‐agile cognitive radio antennas for dynamic spectrum applications as well as polarization and pattern reconfiguration for operation in 5G and beyond systems where spectrum is congested and coexistence is compulsory.