High-gain microstrip antenna with improved radiation characteristics for mmWave 5G and IoT: Design, optimization, and validation

With the rapid evolution of wireless technologies, particularly the deployment of 5G and the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), there is a critical demand for compact, high-performance antennas that can operate efficiently at millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies. These antennas must offer wide bandwidth, high gain, and excellent radiation efficiency to meet the stringent requirements of next-generation communication systems. This paper introduces a novel modified circular microstrip patch antenna, linearly polarized, incorporating an inner square patch, dual horizontal strips, and carefully optimized peripheral slots, tailored for mmWave 5G and IoT applications. The antenna operates in dual-resonance mode, resonating at 46.2 GHz and 53.1 GHz. Its design was optimized using CST Microwave Studio and validated through HFSS simulations. Constructed on a Rogers RT/Duroid 5880 substrate measuring 10 × 9 × 0.508 mm 3 (ε r = 2.2, tanδ = 0.0009), the antenna achieves a wide impedance bandwidth of 13.3 GHz, spanning 45.5 GHz–58.8 GHz, covering a substantial portion of the V-band. The proposed design demonstrates broadside radiation patterns with gains of 12.5 dBi at 46.2 GHz and 10.4 dBi at 53.1 GHz, a VSWR near 1 at both resonances, and radiation efficiency ranging from 94 % up to 99 %. Time-domain analysis confirms reliable and stable transmission performance. Combining compact size, wide bandwidth, high gain, excellent impedance matching, and superior radiation efficiency, this antenna is suitable for 5G and IoT applications, supporting enhanced data rates and increased network capacity and reliability.