High-Efficiency Compact Fractal Antenna with Integrated FSS for Gain Improvement

In this paper, a compact design of a microstrip antenna integrated with FSS technology for improving the antenna gain and radiation performance for wireless communication in the sub-6 GHz range is presented. The proposed design specifically addresses the challenge of simultaneously achieving compact size, wide impedance bandwidth, high gain, and high radiation efficiency on a low-cost substrate, while avoiding excessive antenna profile and fabrication complexity. The proposed antenna is designed using an FR4 substrate material and features a fractal-shaped radiating element fed using a microstrip line. To improve the impedance matching performance, the ground plane is modified. To enhance the radiation performance, an FSS layer is introduced at the back of the proposed antenna, acting as a reflective surface that reduces backward radiation and maximizes the radiation in the forward direction. Hence, the proposed antenna design is suitable for wireless communication in the range of 3-6 GHz, and the gain performance is significantly improved, reaching a value of 8.3 dB. This increase in gain can improve the quality of the link, the range of the coverage, and the overall system performance. Because of the compact configuration, the appropriate operating band, and the improved radiation properties of the proposed design, the proposed design is a potential candidate for various sub-6 GHz-based wireless communication systems, including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, IoT, and 5G networks.