5G WLAN antenna fabricated on low loss Zn ₂ V ₂ O ₇ ceramic substrate with low sintering temperature

Abstract Hard substrate using Zn 2 V 2 O 7 ceramics having low sintering temperature were prepared and its feasibility as a substrate material for a microstrip patch antenna has been investigated. The crystal structure of Zn 2 V 2 O 7 ceramics were studied using X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. Microhardness analysis indicated good resistance to indentation and deformation, with average apparent hardness values of 1.04 ± 0.07 GPa and 0.90 ± 0.06 GPa for applied loads of 1 and 10 N, respectively. Zn 2 V 2 O 7 substrates exhibited a coefficient of thermal expansion of 2.6 ppm °C −1 and thermal conductivity of 0.65 W m −1 K −1 at room temperature. A permittivity of 7.1 and a loss tangent of 8.754 × 10 −4 was measured using split post dielectric resonator cavity with Q × f value of 36 012 GHz at 3.75 GHz. A microstrip patch antenna was designed with copper tape as the ground plane and the radiating patch on the opposite faces of the substrate. The fabricated antenna had a return loss of −13.01 dB at 2.45 GHz. Three‐dimensional radiation pattern of the antenna at 2.44 GHz indicated that radiation efficiency is −3.255 dB, and total efficiency is −4.762 dB, which is moderately efficient. These findings suggest Zn 2 V 2 O 7 as substrate material for microstrip patch antennas, offering potential advantages in terms of structural integrity and thermal stability.