Metamaterial-based inset-fed patch antenna with enhanced gain for sub-6 GHz 5G band

This paper presents a metamaterial-inspired patch antenna is designed for fifth-generation (5G) communication systems. The proposed antenna, with a compact dimension of 65 × 65 mm 2 , employs an inset-fed patch on an FR4 substrate with a defected ground plane to enhance impedance matching. A 5×5 array of metamaterial unit cell is strategically positioned at a distance of 0.1λ in front of the radiator to manipulate electromagnetic wave propagation and further improve antenna performance. The integration of the metamaterial array results in a measured gain of 7.32 dBi, radiation efficiency of 83.70%, and enhanced bandwidth compared to the conventional design. The proposed configuration not only ensures stable frequency response and improved directivity but also offers advantages such as compactness, ease of fabrication, and suitability for modern 5G wireless devices. Simulation results confirm significant improvements in return loss, gain, and radiation characteristics, validating the effectiveness of the metamaterial concept in high-performance antenna design.