Metasurface based MIMO Microstrip Antenna with Reduced Mutual Coupling

In this paper, a negative permeability (μ) metasurface is used to reduce a 2-port Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) rectangular inset fed microstrip antenna’s mutual coupling. Three metasurface wall based mutual coupling reduction designs are modelled, simulated and compared. All designs are formulated by placing a metasurface wall vertically between the two radiating antenna elements. The first antenna design is achieved by placing a single metasurface wall between the two antenna elements. While the second and third designs are achieved by placing the double and triple metasurface wall, respectively. In the first design, a slight increase of 0.5 dB in the antenna’s mutual coupling is seen. While the second design achieves a mutual coupling reduction from −23 dB to −34 dB. Lastly, the third design achieves the mutual coupling reduction from −23 dB to −34 dB, while obtaining up to 17% bandwidth enhancement at (5.86 – 6.10) GHz frequency range. The microstrip antenna, which operates at the (5.9 – 6.1) GHz band, is designed for 5G applications at the extended 6 Ghz band (5.9 –.5) Ghz. The extended band is chosen due to its new additional spectrum which results to less noise interference.