Conformal holographic metasurface-based beamforming antenna using a 3D-printed flexible substrate

This paper presents the design of a holographic metasurface-based beamforming antenna. The metasurface, built on the holographic principle, showcases its transformative ability by converting an omnidirectional monopole into a highly directional antenna. The proposed holographic metasurface antenna (9 λ × 5λ) is designed on top of a novel 3D-printed substrate of polylactic acid (PLA) thermoplastic material having a relative permittivity, ϵ_r of 2.7 and loss tangent, tan δ of 0.004. To maintain light weight and achieve conformality, 10 × 10 mm² unit-cells with a hole in the center is implemented in this substrate. The proposed design is meticulously tailored for optimal performance at 15 GHz having a 14-19 GHz bandwidth, with precise beam at 60° and offering gain of 13 dBi using a holographic metasurface. The presented antenna’s versatility for conformal applications is validated by cylindrical bending measurements.