Innovative advances in microwave materials: Tailoring Zn(1-x)TixAl2O4 nanoceramic composites for improved wireless applications

Researchers synthesized Zn (1- x ) Ti x Al 2 O 4 nanoceramic composites ( x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) using the sol-gel method to develop compact wireless patch antennas. Structural analyses (X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Selective area diffraction (SAED)) confirmed ZnAl 2 O 4 and TiO 2 phases, with TiO 2 enhancing surface roughness, crystallite size (16 nm at x = 0.5), and density. TEM revealed spherical grains (∼17.1 nm), and increasing TiO 2 content improved dielectric permittivity (ε r : 22.23–25.41), crucial for antenna miniaturization. Patch antenna prototypes demonstrated excellent performance at S-band frequencies, with return losses ranging from −18.06 dB to −26.13 dB and VSWR < 2, highlighting their suitability for wireless communication.