Design and Performance Analysis of Graphene Integrated CPW Fed Fractal Antennae for 5G mm-Wave and Ground Based Navigation Applications

Abstract

This paper proposes co-planner waveguide (CPW)-fed modified fractal antennae for wideband and multiband applications. The proposed antennas have a resonance frequency in the range of 24–40 GHz with 40 × 40 mm² dimensions. The corporate CPW (Coplanar Waveguide) feeding technique is integrated with the ring, meander line, and periodic staircase with a slot pattern and augmented by conductive graphene for Electromagnetic Band Gap and Photonic Band Gap structures on the opposite side of the Substrate. This integration significantly enhances antenna performance, manifesting superior radiation properties, increased gain, enhanced directivity, and resonating behavior concerning fractal antennae. The proposed PBG and EBG fractal antennas exhibit peak directivities ranging from 9.95 to 9.48 dBi for different angles (Phi = 0°, Phi = 90°, Theta = 90°) with beam scanning and pencil beam properties, with maximum return losses of 47 dB and 30 dB for PBG and EBG designs, respectively. The covered bandwidths include 26–28 GHz, 28.4–36.3 GHz, and 25–26.5 GHz, 27.7–29.8 GHz, 31–33 GHz, 34.1–40 GHz, compatible with 5G NR bands n257, n258, n259, n260, and n261, and ground-based radio navigation applications. Simulations using CST and validations with vector and spectrum analyzers confirm these results.