Graphene-based electronically tunable microstrip attenuator

Abstract

This paper presents the design of a graphene-based electronically tunable microstrip attenuator operating at the frequency of 5 GHz. The use of graphene as a variable resistor is discussed, and the modeling of its electromagnetic properties at microwave frequencies is fully addressed. The design of the graphene-based attenuator is described. The structure integrates a patch of graphene, whose characteristics can range from fairly good conductor to highly lossy material, depending on the applied voltage. By applying the proper voltage through two high-impedance bias lines, the surface resistivity of graphene can be modified, thus changing the insertion loss of the microstrip attenuator.