Next Article in Journal
Light-Stimulated IGZO Transistors with Tunable Synaptic Plasticity Based on Casein Electrolyte Electric Double Layer for Neuromorphic Systems
Next Article in Special Issue
The Design and Experimental Validation of a Biomimetic Stubble-Cutting Device Inspired by a Leaf-Cutting Ant’s Mandibles
Previous Article in Journal
The Creation of an Average 3D Model of the Human Cartilaginous Nasal Septum and Its Biomimetic Applications
Previous Article in Special Issue
Sound Reception in the Yangtze Finless Porpoise and Its Extension to a Biomimetic Receptor
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Plant Foliar Geometry as a Biomimetic Template for Antenna Design

by
Jose Ignacio Lozano
1,
Marco A. Panduro
1,*,
Rodrigo Méndez-Alonzo
2,
Miguel A. Alonso-Arevalo
1,
Roberto Conte
1 and
Alberto Reyna
3
1
Departamento de Electrónica y Telecomunicaciones, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana No. 3918, Zona Playitas, Ensenada 22860, Baja California, Mexico
2
Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana No. 3918, Zona Playitas, Ensenada 22860, Baja California, Mexico
3
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, UAMRR-R, Carretera Reynosa-San Fernando, Reynosa 88779, Tamaulipas, Mexico
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biomimetics 2023, 8(7), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8070531
Submission received: 16 October 2023 / Revised: 3 November 2023 / Accepted: 5 November 2023 / Published: 7 November 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Design: Creativity and Innovation)

Abstract

:
Plant diversity includes over 300,000 species, and leaf structure is one of the main targets of selection, being highly variable in shape and size. On the other hand, the optimization of antenna design has no unique solution to satisfy the current range of applications. We analyzed the foliar geometries of 100 plant species and applied them as a biomimetic design template for microstrip patch antenna systems. From this set, a subset of seven species were further analyzed, including species from tropical and temperate forests across the phylogeny of the Angiosperms. Foliar geometry per species was processed by image processing analyses, and the resultant geometries were used in simulations of the reflection coefficients and the radiation patterns via finite differences methods. A value below −10 dB is set for the reflection coefficient to determine the operation frequencies of all antenna elements. All species showed between 3 and 15 operational frequencies, and four species had operational frequencies that included the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The reflection coefficients and the radiation patterns in most of the designs were equal or superior to those of conventional antennas, with several species showing multiband effects and omnidirectional radiation. We demonstrate that plant structures can be used as a biomimetic tool in designing microstrip antenna for a wide range of applications.

1. Introduction

Plants have been an inspiration source for the analysis and design of different systems in the physical and engineering fields. In plants, the reception, interception and exclusion of solar energy are critical steps, as plants receive energy in a wide frequency range, but are only able to utilize certain wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum to photosynthesize, mainly in the blue and red visible bands in the case of the chlorophyll pigments. Other values of wavelength are either intercepted through the accessory pigments, such as xantophylls and carotenoids, or discarded as reflected infrared radiation [1,2]. Evolution has strongly shaped the leaf form as a mainly flat and wide surface to intercept light and avoid self-shading [3]. The geometrical forms of leaves are strongly associated with their ecology and development, including light interception and water conduction [4]. In other words, a plant can be considered a natural wireless system. The geometrical forms of plant leaves have been studied in a wide range of wireless applications such as: energy harvesting [5,6], antenna designs [7,8], terahertz applications [9], Internet of Plants [10], thermal exchange [11], among others. Therefore, the structure of leaves can be employed as a biomimetic toolbox for a wide set of technological applications [12]. This should not be surprising, as there are over 300,000 described species of plants in the world, and it is estimated that an additional 150,000 are to be still described [13]. The foliar structure has been one of the main targets of diversification, and as such, the shape is influenced by the networks of water conduction [14,15], and the patterns of radiation capture [16,17,18].
One potentially critical application of the geometry of plant leaves is the design and production of antennas [19,20,21,22,23]. Previous work by Gielis et al., proposed the application of a super-formula to create many different foliar geometries [24,25,26]. These foliar geometries generated by the Gielis super-formula have provided an interesting ground for designing new types and forms of antennas, encompassing a wide range of applications. However, even when the Gielis super-formula can provide a mathematically feasible way to generate multilobated leaves, it is still difficult to emulate the vast diversity of leaf shapes and sizes in the natural world. Furthermore, other authors have employed single species to design antenna elemental geometry, by imitating biological structures [27] or bionic antennas [28]. Some examples include the simulation of the Ginkgo biloba leaf shape [29] and the banana leaf antenna [30].
Although the use of the natural geometries of plant leaves have been considered previously as a template for designing antenna elements, there is still an ample gap in our current capacity to find different geometrical configurations that outperform the state of art imposed by regular and conventional geometries. Therefore, this paper analyzes and studies the application of several novel geometries of plant leaves for designing antenna systems. First, we generated a database of the foliar geometry of 100 species, which was posteriorly refined to include the potentially best designs, that in our case, included seven different plant species to study and analyze in terms of simulated coefficient of reflection, and patterns of radiation: Tetrapterys macrocarpa (Malpighiaceae), Sarcorhachis naranjoana (Piperaceae), Cissampelos owariensis (Menispermaceae), Paranomus spectrum (Proteaceae), Cesearia ilicifolia (Salicaceae), Liquidambar styraciflua (Hamamelidaceae), and Quercus alba (Fagaceae), a set of species that encompassed several clades of flowering plants across several biomes, including tropical and temperate forests and drylands. Therefore, the effect of the leaf geometric characteristics (elliptic, obovate, ovate, oblong, toothed, lobed leaves, pinnately lobed) was studied by analyzing these seven different types of leaves across species.
In conjunction with this, our main expectation is that some of the analyzed geometries would equal or even outperform the current structural designs of conventional antenna, and that some species might even find ground as templates for current technological applications [31]. Therefore, the main differences in our work with respect to existing work are: the development of a methodology to generate antenna designs considering the natural geometry of plant leaves and secondly, a demonstration via performance analyses, that new antenna geometries can be achieved using foliar geometries as templates that can be quantified in terms of the reflection coefficient and the radiation pattern of each antenna structure. We further show, via simulation results, that the performance of each plant species’ leaf design using a CST electromagnetic solver, indicates possible new applications for developing specific uses for different types of antennas through a wide set of specific wavelengths.

2. Materials and Methods

Two important elements are required to generate the antenna design: software to process images (SolidWorks) of the leaves’ geometries and the electromagnetic solver to assess the design models (CST Microwave Studio) [32].
Figure 1 illustrates the method of the design process to generate the radiating elements using the image of the leaf geometry. The geometry of the leaves is generated by processing the images of the chemically cleared plant leaves as described in [33]. The foliar geometry of 100 species is generated and analyzed. These 100 species are shown in Table 1 using the details provided by [33] as family and type of leaf. The antenna design methodology using the image or template of the leaf geometry follows the next steps (Figure 1):
  • The image of the leaf geometry (for each species in Table 1) is taken from the Manual of Leaf Architecture [33]. This is in order to obtain a wide range of leaf images. Then, we take the image set in this leaf manual by considering the front view and knowing the name and family of each leaf architecture. Furthermore, this leaf manual provides an extensive selection of many kinds of leaf architectures found in nature.
  • The original leaf image (taken from nature) is converted to black and white. The black and white image can be generated using color filter software.
  • CAD design software (for example SolidWorks) is used to generate the image. SolidWorks processes the image in black and white. The function “Sketch Picture” of SolidWorks can be used to detect the black and white leaf geometry. Then, a collection of samples or points is generated to provide a tridimensional model by using a compatible format with CST solver.
  • The processed images are exported to the CST electromagnetic solver to set dimensions and substrate properties. The substrate FR4 is considered in each design geometry with the next electrical properties: dimensions of 100 mm × 100 mm, a thickness of 1.6 mm, relative permittivity εr = 4.2 and tangent loss of 0.025.
  • Each leaf geometry of Table 1 is characterized in the CST solver. The CST software uses the method of finite differences in the time domain (FDTD) to provide the radiation pattern and the reflection coefficient of each leaf geometry. Different radiation pattern cuts (horizontal and vertical) can be extracted from the 3D pattern obtained.
Basically, this methodology is applied to consider the basic geometric characteristics of the plant leaves to design new antennas and investigate the effects on performance of the geometry. As shown in Table 1, there are many geometric characteristics found in the plants’ leaves such as: elliptic, obovate, ovate, circular base, toothed, lobed leaves, pinnately lobed, among others. It would be interesting to see the design impact of each different geometric characteristic of the plants’ leaves. The behavior of these leaf geometries can be studied as antenna systems. The idea is to use the geometry of the plant leaves illustrated in Table 1 to design new antenna structures.
More sophisticated methods can be used to generate high resolution images that could be used to analyze the veins of the plant leaves. However, that can be performed as an extension of this work. The design results for the leaf geometries are illustrated in the next section.

3. Results

The plant leaf geometries illustrated previously in Table 1 were simulated in the CST electromagnetic solver to be analyzed as antenna systems. The reflection coefficient (S11) is used to determine the operation frequencies of each leaf antenna design. Basically, a value of −10 dB (or below) is set for S11 to determine the operation frequencies of all antenna elements. Then, the electromagnetic radiation can be determined for all the operation frequencies or some frequencies of interest.
Table 2 shows the frequency values to be operated by the 100 antennas generated by the leaf geometries (illustrated in Table 1). As mentioned previously, the operation frequency is determined using the reflection coefficient (S11 < −10 dB).
Table 2 considers frequency values between 600 MHz and 11 GHz. This table can be useful for the antenna designers to identify which antenna elements could operate in certain applications by considering the operation frequency. CST Microwave Studio applies the method of FDTD to assess the antenna structures [32]. This method is very rigorous at characterizing the design of each antenna. Therefore, these frequency values (shown in Table 2) can be considered a good approximation in practical terms.
Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6 and Table 7 illustrate a classification of frequency bands to be operated by the antenna elements according to the electromagnetic spectrum. As shown in these tables, many antenna elements show multiband operation. This classification is very useful because these frequency bands are employed in applications of radar, terrestrial and satellite communications. The frequency bands to be operated by more antenna elements are the C and X bands. Furthermore, the frequency band operated by fewer antenna elements is the L band. This frequency band has a smaller frequency range than the other bands.
Each antenna element could be worked and analyzed to operate at a specific frequency. However, this analysis of operation frequencies helps us to identify what kind of leaf design geometries can adapt in a better way to a set frequency range. Some modern applications or bands of interest can be included in this analysis. For example, Table 8 illustrates the antenna elements that can operate at frequencies of Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) and 5 GHz. These frequencies are often used in wireless technologies.
As illustrated previously, each leaf geometry presents a different geometric shape. Therefore, we selected seven particular leaves in order to illustrate a different geometrical shape: Tetrapterys macrocarpa (Malpighiaceae), Sarcorhachis naranjoana (Piperaceae), Cissampelos owariensis (Menispermaceae), Paranomus spectrum (Proteaceae), Cesearia ilicifolia (Salicaceae), Liquidambar styraciflua (Hamamelidaceae), and Quercus alba (Fagaceae). The effect of the leaf’s geometric characteristics (elliptic, obovate, ovate, oblong, toothed, lobed leaves, pinnately lobed) can be studied by analyzing these seven different types of leaves across species.
Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7 and Figure 8 illustrate the antenna design in CST and the results obtained for the seven leaf geometries selected. These figures show the behavior of the reflection coefficient (defined as S11), the design configuration in the CST electromagnetic solver, 3D electromagnetic radiation and some cuts of the radiation pattern (vertical and horizontal) for different values of frequency of each plant leaf geometry. As shown in these figures, it is interesting to note that all the design cases present multiple operation frequencies. All the cases generate a multiband response in the behavior of the reflection. Therefore, the design impact of each plant leaf will be described, providing details of each different leaf design to give a more detailed description.
The case of elliptic geometry (Tetrapterys macrocarpa Malpighiaceae, Figure 2) provides six frequencies of operation below 5 GHz (0.87 GHz, 1.62 GHz, 2.19 GHz, 2.61 GHz, 3.3 GHz and 4.11 GHz), another operation frequency is obtained at 9.2 GHz and for frequencies higher than ≈13 GHz the reflection coefficient (Figure 2b) remains below −10 dB. The obtained radiation for the frequencies of 0.87 GHz and 3.3 GHz is illustrated in Figure 2d–g. The horizontal and vertical cut of the radiation pattern obtained for each frequency is illustrated. As observed in these figures, different radiation characteristics are obtained for different values of frequency. Better radiation characteristics are obtained for 0.87 GHz (radiation is obtained in almost half of all the cuts or plane). However, desirable radiation characteristics persist when the frequency is increased up to 3.3 GHz.
The ovate case (Sarcorhachis naranjoana Piperaceae, Figure 3) generates at least eight interesting frequency bands below 10 GHz (1.05 GHz, 2.9–3.6 GHz, 4.07–4.28 GHz, 4.56–4.71 GHz, 5.15–5.32 GHz, 6.42–6.6 GHz, 7.08–7.22 GHz, 8.4–8.655 GHz, 9.01–9.13 GHz, 9.59–9.76 GHz). Furthermore, the reflection coefficient (Figure 3b) remains below −10 dB for frequencies higher than 11.6 GHz. The radiation pattern cuts (vertical and horizontal) at f = 1.05 GHz and f = 3.09 GHz are illustrated in Figure 3d–g. As illustrated in Figure 3d–g, good radiation characteristics are obtained for these frequency cuts. The ovate geometry impacts the generation of more design frequencies below 10 GHz with respect to elliptic geometry.
The circular base geometry (Cissampelos owariensis Menispermaceae, Figure 4) provides at least seven interesting frequency bands below 10 GHz (1.1–1.34 GHz, 1.61–1.81 GHz, 2.4–2.55 GHz, 2.98–3.11 GHz, 3.75–3.98 GHz, 6.05–6.40 GHz and 8.4–8.96 GHz). In addition, the reflection coefficient (Figure 4b) remains below −10 dB for frequencies higher than ≈14.9 GHz. The pattern cuts (vertical and horizontal) at f = 1.2 GHz and f = 6.27 GHz are illustrated in Figure 4d–g. The leaf width impacts the generation of better radiation characteristics (there is more radiation in all the cuts) with respect to the previous cases. This phenomenon can be observed through the obtained radiation patterns at the operating frequencies of 1.2 GHz and 6.27 GHz.
The obovate case (Paranomus spectrum Proteaceae, Figure 5) provides several frequency bands below 10 GHz: 1.5–1.66 GHz, 2.19–2.92 GHz, 5.1–5.47 GHz, 5.82–6.1 GHz, 6.28–6.75 GHz, 7.28–7.91 GHz, 8.36–8.92 GHz, 9.27–10 GHz. This case generates the best behavior for high frequencies (with respect to the other cases), i.e., for frequencies higher than ≈9.27 GHz the reflection coefficient (Figure 5b) remains below −10 dB. An exciting observation can be made from the radiation patterns (observe Figure 5d–g) obtained at f = 2.34 GHz and f = 5.31 GHz. These figures exhibit improved radiation characteristics for higher frequency values.
The toothed case (Cesearia ilicifolia Salicaceae, Figure 6) generates more operation frequency bands below 10 GHz with respect to the other cases (0.8–0.97 GHz, 1.62–1.81 GHz, 2.36–2.56 GHz, 3.22–3.38 GHz, 4.55–4.74 GHz, 5.81–6.03 GHz, 6.4–7.6 GHz, 8.07–8.47 GHz, 8.83–9.15 GHz and 9.6–9.92 GHz). Furthermore, the reflection coefficient (Figure 6b) remains below −10 dB for frequencies higher than 18 GHz. Figure 6d–g illustrates good radiation characteristics considering the horizontal and vertical cuts for the frequency values at f = 5.91 GHz and f = 6.51 GHz.
The geometry of lobed leaves (Liquidambar styraciflua Hamamelidaceae, Figure 7) provided seven operation frequency bands below 10 GHz (1.98–2.07 GHz, 4.11–4.34 GHz, 5.46–5.76 GHz, 5.86–6.17 GHz, 7.24–7.52 GHz, 7.79–8.485 GHz and 8.99–9.84 GHz). Some of these frequency bands presented values of S11 (Figure 7b) very close to −10 dB. Figure 7d,e illustrates the obtained radiation cuts (horizontal and vertical) at f = 2.34 GHz and f = 5.31 GHz. The depicted figures demonstrate notable radiation characteristics at the respective frequency values.
The geometry of pinnately lobed (Quercus alba Fagaceae, Figure 8) provided several frequency bands and the widest frequency band below 10 GHz with respect to the other cases (2.41–2.57 GHz, 3.1–3.3 GHz, 3.66–3.95 GHz, 4.56–4.68 GHz, 5.05–6.13 GHz, 7.47–9.801 GHz). The reflection coefficient (Figure 8b) illustrates a frequency band of ≈2.2 GHz (from 7.47 GHz to 9.8 GHz). Furthermore, the horizontal and vertical cuts of obtained radiation for f = 3.18 GHz and f = 5.88 GHz are shown in Figure 8d–g. A better behavior of the radiation characteristics for the higher frequency value is illustrated.

4. Discussion

By exploring a wide set of geometries derived from 100 species, we were able to distinguish features that provided a flowchart to select geometries apt to satisfy technological applications. In particular, the subset of seven species offers a template to deepen our comprehension of the design requirement involved in biomimetic antenna design. This work, to our knowledge, is a comprehensive effort to study plant biomimetic antenna designs, and the simulations performed in CST stimulate further research, given the excellent properties that certain leaf architectures provide in comparison to the conventional geometries currently employed.
For example, Table 9 illustrates a comparative analysis of the performance of each plant leaf design. This comparative analysis is achieved in terms of the leaf geometry, design impact and operation frequencies below 10 GHz. Although more than one geometry could contribute to the same design impact (or similar performance characteristics), several interesting design characteristics can be considered as a result of this study: the obovate geometry presented the best behavior for high frequencies, the toothed case provided more frequency bands below 10 GHz, the circular base geometry (the widest plant leaf) generated the best radiation characteristics and the pinnately lobed case provided the widest frequency band.
Some limitations of this work and potential future work can be extended from the current study as follows:
  • Each leaf architecture (in this work) considers vein characteristics of the first order. Therefore, more vein characteristics (of higher order) can be considered in order to obtain better performance features.
  • This study only considers the response of the leaf geometry found in nature. It could be interesting to try to generate a geometry that considers the optimization of the design parameters in order to improve performance. Furthermore, some of the interesting characteristics found in this study could be used (or mixed) to try to create new design geometries or super-geometries. Therefore, we consider that future work searching the optimization of biomimetic designs based on plant leaf architectures will further support the development of specific applications in antenna design.

5. Conclusions

The foliar geometries of 100 plant species were analyzed and applied as a biomimetic design template for patch antenna systems. The foliar geometry per species was processed through image processing analyses, and the resultant geometries were used in simulations of the reflection coefficients and the radiation patterns via the method of FDTD. Furthermore, the effect of the leaf geometric characteristics (elliptic, obovate, ovate, oblong, toothed, lobed leaves, pinnately lobed) was analyzed to study the design impact. This impact study was achieved by selecting and analyzing seven species from tropical and temperate forests across the phylogeny of the Angiosperms.
The obovate geometry presented the best behavior for high frequencies. The toothed case provided more frequency bands below 10 GHz. The circular base geometry (the widest plant leaf) generated the best radiation characteristics, and the pinnately lobed case provided the widest frequency band. All the design cases presented multiple operation frequencies. All the design cases generated a multiband response in the behavior of the reflection coefficient. All species showed between 3 and 15 operational frequencies, and four species had operational frequencies that included the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The reflection coefficients and the radiation patterns in most of the designs were equal or superior to those of conventional antennas, with several species showing multiband effects and omnidirectional radiation.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, M.A.P. and R.M.-A.; methodology, J.I.L. and R.M.-A.; software, J.I.L. and M.A.P.; validation, A.R. and R.C.; formal analysis, M.A.A.-A.; investigation, J.I.L., M.A.P. and R.M.-A.; data curation, A.R. and R.C.; writing—original draft preparation, M.A.A.-A.; writing—review and editing, R.M.-A., M.A.A.-A.; visualization, R.C.; supervision, M.A.P., R.M.-A., M.A.A.-A., R.C.; project administration, A.R.; funding acquisition, M.A.P. and R.M.-A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Rochaix, J.D. Regulation and dynamics of the light-harvesting system. Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 2014, 65, 287–309. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Lokstein, H.; Renger, G.; Götze, J.P. Photosynthetic light-harvesting (antenna) complexes—Structures and functions. Molecules 2021, 26, 3378. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Givnish, T.J. Comparative studies of leaf form: Assessing the relative roles of selective pressures and phylogenetic constraints. New Phytol. 1987, 106, 131–160. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Tomlinson, P.B. Tree architecture: New approaches help to define the elusive biological property of tree form. Am. Sci. 1983, 71, 141–149. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  5. Çelİk, K.; Kurt, E. Design and implementation of a bioinspired leaf shaped hybrid rectenna as a green energy manufacturing concept. Turk. J. Electr. Eng. Comput. Sci. 2022, 30, 1995–2012. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Çelik, K.; Kurt, E. Design and implementation of a dual band bioinspired leaf rectenna for RF energy harvesting applications. Int. J. RF Microw. Comput.-Aided Eng. 2021, 31, e22868. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Cruz, J.D.N.; Freire, R.C.S.; Serres, A.J.R.; De Moura, L.C.M.; Da Costa, A.P.; Silva, P.H.D.F. Parametric study of printed monopole antenna bioinspired on the inga marginata leaves for UWB applications. J. Microw. Optolectronics Electromagn. Appl. 2017, 16, 312–322. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. da Silva, P.F.; Santana, E.E.; Cruz, C.A.; Aquino, V.S.; Castro, L.S.; Serres, A.J.; Freire, R.C.S.; Silva, P.H.F. Compact bioinspired antenna for WLAN 5 GHz application. Wirel. Pers. Commun. 2021, 119, 329–341. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Keshwala, U.; Rawat, S.; Ray, K. Plant shaped antenna with trigonometric half sine tapered leaves for THz applications. Opt.–Int. J. Light Electron Opt. 2020, 223, 165648. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Geubbels, L.A.M.; Federico, G.; Vidojkovic, V.; Anguera, J.; Bronckers, L.A. Plantenna: Using Plant Leaves to Increase Antenna Performance. In Proceedings of the 2022 16th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), Madrid, Spain, 27 March–1 April 2022; Available online: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9769173 (accessed on 1 November 2023).
  11. Rupp, A.I.K.S.; Gruber, P. Biomimetic groundwork for thermal exchange structures inspired by plant leaf design. Biomimetics 2019, 4, 75. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Roth-Nebelsick, A.; Krause, M. The Plant Leaf: A Biomimetic Resource for Multifunctional and Economic Design. Biomimetics 2023, 8, 145. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Pimm, S.L.; Joppa, L.N. How many plant species are there, where are they, and at what rate are they going extinct? Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 2015, 100, 170–176. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Sack, L.; Dietrich, E.M.; Streeter, C.M.; Sánchez-Gómez, D.; Holbrook, N.M. Leaf palmate venation and vascular redundancy confer tolerance of hydraulic disruption. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2008, 105, 1567–1572. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Sack, L.; Tyree, M.T. Leaf hydraulics and its implications in plant structure and function. In Vascular Transport in Plants; Academic Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2005; pp. 93–114. [Google Scholar]
  16. Givnish, T. On the adaptive significance of leaf form. In Topics in Plant Population Biology; Palgrave: London, UK, 1979; pp. 375–407. [Google Scholar]
  17. Falster, D.S.; Westoby, M. Leaf size and angle vary widely across species: What consequences for light interception? New Phytol. 2003, 158, 509–525. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  18. Wright, I.J.; Reich, P.B.; Westoby, M.; Ackerly, D.D.; Baruch, Z.; Bongers, F.; Cavender-Bares, J.; Chapin, T.; Cornelissen, J.H.C.; Diemer, M.; et al. The worldwide leaf economics spectrum. Nature 2004, 428, 821–827. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  19. Júnior, P.F.S.; Freire, R.C.S.; Serres, A.J.R.; Catunda, S.Y.; Silva, P.H.d.F. Bioinspired transparent antenna for WLAN application in 5 GHz. Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett. 2017, 59, 2879–2884. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Keshwala, U.; Rawat, S.; Ray, K. Design and analysis of eight petal flower shaped fractal antenna for THz applications. Opt. –Int. J. Light Electron Opt. 2021, 241, 166942. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Abolade, J.O.; Konditi, D.B.O.; Dharmadhikary, V.M. Compact hexa-band bio-inspired antenna using asymmetric microstrip feeding technique for wireless applications. Heliyon 2021, 7, e06247. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Abolade, J.O.; Konditi, D.B.O.; Dharmadhikary, V.M. A comparative study of compact multi-band bio-inspired asymmetric microstrip fed antennas (BioAs-MPAs) for wireless applications. Int. J. Antennas Propag. Hindawi 2021, 2021, 6676689. [Google Scholar]
  23. Hajiyat, Z.R.M.; Ismail, A.; Sali, A.; Hamidon, M.N. Antenna in 6G wireless communication system: Specifications, challenges and research directions. Opt.–Int. J. Light Electron Opt. 2021, 231, 166415. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Bhaskar, V.S.; Tan, E.L.; Holden, L.K.H. Design of wideband bowtie slot antenna using sectorially modified Gielis curves. IEEE Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett. 2018, 17, 2237–2240. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Yang, K.; Song, Z.; Gielis, J.; Caratelli, D. A super-formula based compact ultra-wideband antenna and its application to indoor real-time positioning systems. Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett. 2022, 64, 2103–2109. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. VBhaskar, S.; Tan, E.L. Design of dual-band omnidirectional planar microstrip antenna using Gielis curves. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, Montreal, QC, Canada, 5–10 July 2020. [Google Scholar]
  27. Gric, T.; Gorodetsky, A.; Trofimov, A.; Rafailov, E. Tunable plasmonic properties and absorption enhancement in terahertz photoconductive antenna based on optimized plasmonic nanostructures. J. Infrared Millim. Terahertz Waves 2018, 39, 1028–1038. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Rmili, H.; Oueslati, D.; Trad, I.B.; Floch, J.M.; Dobaie, A.; Mittra, R. Investigation of a random-fractal antenna based on a natural tree-leaf geometry. Int. J. Antennas Propag. Hindawi 2017, 2017, 2084835. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Silva, P.F., Jr.; Freire, R.C.S.; Serres, A.J.R.; Silva, P.H.d.F.; Silva, J.C. Wearable textile bioinspired antenna for 2G, 3G and 4G systems. Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett. 2016, 58, 2818–2823. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Wang, L.; Yu, J.; Xie, T.; Yu, Z.; Liang, B.; Xu, X. The design of a multi-band bionic antenna for mobile terminals. Int. J. RF Microw. Comput.-Aided Eng. 2021, 31, e22620. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Penick, C.A.; Cope, G.; Morankar, S.; Mistry, Y.; Grishin, A.; Chawla, N.; Bhate, D. The comparative approach to bio-inspired design: Integrating biodiversity and biologists into the design process. Integr. Comp. Biol. 2022, 62, 1153–1163. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  32. Commercial Software. Available online: https://www.cst.com (accessed on 1 November 2023).
  33. Ellis, B.; Daly, D.C.; Hickey, L.J.; Johnson, K.R.; Mitchell, J.D.; Wilf, P.; Wing, S.L. Manual of Leaf Architecture; CABI Publishing: Oxon, UK, 2009. [Google Scholar]
Figure 1. Basic method to assess the structure or each leaf design as a radiating element.
Figure 1. Basic method to assess the structure or each leaf design as a radiating element.
Biomimetics 08 00531 g001
Figure 2. Tetrapterys macrocarpa Malpighiaceae (elliptic) (a) front view, (b) S11 parameter, (c) 3D pattern at 0.87 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 0.87 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 3.3 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Figure 2. Tetrapterys macrocarpa Malpighiaceae (elliptic) (a) front view, (b) S11 parameter, (c) 3D pattern at 0.87 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 0.87 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 3.3 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Biomimetics 08 00531 g002aBiomimetics 08 00531 g002b
Figure 3. Sarcorhachis naranjoana Piperaceae (ovate) (a) front view, (b) S11 parameter, (c) 3D pattern at 1.05 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 1.05 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 3.09 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Figure 3. Sarcorhachis naranjoana Piperaceae (ovate) (a) front view, (b) S11 parameter, (c) 3D pattern at 1.05 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 1.05 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 3.09 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Biomimetics 08 00531 g003
Figure 4. Cissampelos owariensis Menispermaceae (circular base) (a) front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D pattern at 1.2 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 1.2 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 6.27 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Figure 4. Cissampelos owariensis Menispermaceae (circular base) (a) front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D pattern at 1.2 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 1.2 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 6.27 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Biomimetics 08 00531 g004aBiomimetics 08 00531 g004b
Figure 5. Paranomus spectrum Proteaceae (obovate) (a) Front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D radiation pattern at 2.34 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 2.34 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 5.31 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Figure 5. Paranomus spectrum Proteaceae (obovate) (a) Front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D radiation pattern at 2.34 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 2.34 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 5.31 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Biomimetics 08 00531 g005
Figure 6. Cesearia ilicifolia Salicaceae (toothed) (a) Front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D radiation pattern at 5.91 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 5.91 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 6.51 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Figure 6. Cesearia ilicifolia Salicaceae (toothed) (a) Front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D radiation pattern at 5.91 GHz, and cuts of the radiation pattern at f = 5.91 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 6.51 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Biomimetics 08 00531 g006
Figure 7. Liquidambar styraciflua Hamamelidaceae (lobed leaves) (a) front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D pattern at 4.23 GHz, and cuts of the pattern at f = 4.23 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 5.58 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Figure 7. Liquidambar styraciflua Hamamelidaceae (lobed leaves) (a) front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D pattern at 4.23 GHz, and cuts of the pattern at f = 4.23 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 5.58 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Biomimetics 08 00531 g007aBiomimetics 08 00531 g007b
Figure 8. Quercus alba Fagaceae (pinnately lobed) (a) front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D radiation pattern at 3.18 GHz, and cuts of the pattern at f = 3.18 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 5.88 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Figure 8. Quercus alba Fagaceae (pinnately lobed) (a) front view, (b) S11 Parameter, (c) 3D radiation pattern at 3.18 GHz, and cuts of the pattern at f = 3.18 GHz (d) vertical and (e) horizontal cut, and at f = 5.88 GHz (f) vertical and (g) horizontal cut.
Biomimetics 08 00531 g008
Table 1. Set of species analyzed and assessed as antenna designs.
Table 1. Set of species analyzed and assessed as antenna designs.
1Biomimetics 08 00531 i001Tillia Mandshurica
Malvaceae
11Biomimetics 08 00531 i002Acer franchetii Sapindaceae
2Biomimetics 08 00531 i003Davilla rugosa Dilleniaceae12Biomimetics 08 00531 i004Tetrapterys macrocarpa Malpighiaceae
3Biomimetics 08 00531 i005Stemonoporus nitidus Dipterocarpaceae13Biomimetics 08 00531 i006Eucryphia glutinosa Cunoniaceae
4Biomimetics 08 00531 i007Bauhinia madagascariensis Fabaceae14Biomimetics 08 00531 i008Licania michauxii Chrysobalanaceae
5Biomimetics 08 00531 i009Tetracentron sinense Trochodendraceae15Biomimetics 08 00531 i010Morus microphylla Moraceae
6Biomimetics 08 00531 i011Buchanania arborescens Anacardiaceae16Biomimetics 08 00531 i012Comocladia dodonaea Anacardiaceae
7Biomimetics 08 00531 i013Aristotelia racemosa Elaeocarpaceae17Biomimetics 08 00531 i014Sorindeia gilletii Anacardiaceae
8Biomimetics 08 00531 i015Bombacopsis rupicola Malvaceae18Biomimetics 08 00531 i016Leepierceia preartocarpoides Proteales
9Biomimetics 08 00531 i017Rhynchoglossum azureum Gesneriaceae19Biomimetics 08 00531 i018Adenia heterophylla Passifloraceae
10Biomimetics 08 00531 i019Nothofagus procera Nothofagaceae20Biomimetics 08 00531 i020Potentilla recta
Rosaceae
21Biomimetics 08 00531 i021Dryandra longifolia Proteaceae31Biomimetics 08 00531 i022Carrierea calycina Salicaceae
22Biomimetics 08 00531 i023Cucurbita cylindrata Cucurbitaceae32Biomimetics 08 00531 i024Dalechampia cissifolia Euphorbiaceae
23Biomimetics 08 00531 i025Quercus alba
Fagaceae
33Biomimetics 08 00531 i026Croton hircinus Euphorbiaceae
24Biomimetics 08 00531 i027Rubus mesogaeus Rosaceae34Biomimetics 08 00531 i028Dombeya elegans Malvaceae
25Biomimetics 08 00531 i029Cissampelos owariensis Menispermaceae35Biomimetics 08 00531 i030Tetrameles nudiflora Datiscaceae
26Biomimetics 08 00531 i031Phyllanthus poumensis Phyllanthaceae36Biomimetics 08 00531 i032Phoebe costaricana Lauraceae
27Biomimetics 08 00531 i033Cercidiphyllum japonicum Cercidiphyllaceae37Biomimetics 08 00531 i034Platanus racemosa Platanaceae
28Biomimetics 08 00531 i035Acer saccharinum Sapindaceae38Biomimetics 08 00531 i036Trichosanthes formosana Cucurbitaceae
29Biomimetics 08 00531 i037Liquidambar styraciflua Hamamelidaceae39Biomimetics 08 00531 i038Paliurus ramosissimus Rhamnaceae
30Biomimetics 08 00531 i039Ostrya guatemalensis Betulaceae40Biomimetics 08 00531 i040Sarcorhachis naranjoana Piperaceae
41Biomimetics 08 00531 i041Topobea watsonii Melastomataceae51Biomimetics 08 00531 i042Cleistanthus oligophlebius Phyllanthaceae
42Biomimetics 08 00531 i043Paranomus sceptrum Proteaceae52Biomimetics 08 00531 i044Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Rhamnaceae
43Biomimetics 08 00531 i045Potamogeton amplifolius Potamogetonaceae53Biomimetics 08 00531 i046Cotinus obovatus Anacardiaceae
44Biomimetics 08 00531 i047Maianthemum dilatatum Ruscaceae54Biomimetics 08 00531 i048Santiria samarensis Burseraceae
45Biomimetics 08 00531 i049Cercidiphyllum japonicum Cercidiphyllaceae55Biomimetics 08 00531 i050Aextoxicon punctatum Aextoxicaceae
46Biomimetics 08 00531 i051Casearia ilicifolia
Salicaceae
56Biomimetics 08 00531 i052Antigonon cinerascens Polygonaceae
47Biomimetics 08 00531 i053Mahonia wilcoxii Berberidaceae57Biomimetics 08 00531 i054Capsicodendron pimenteira Canellaceae
48Biomimetics 08 00531 i055Cornus officinalis Cornaceae58Biomimetics 08 00531 i056Tapura guianensis Dichapetalaceae
49Biomimetics 08 00531 i057Isoptera lissophylla Dipterocarpaceae59Biomimetics 08 00531 i058Comocladia glabra Anacardiaceae
50Biomimetics 08 00531 i059Tococa aristata Melastomataceae60Biomimetics 08 00531 i060Viburnum setigerum Adoxaceae
61Biomimetics 08 00531 i061Bixa orellana Bixaceae71Biomimetics 08 00531 i062Popowia congensis Annonaceae
62Biomimetics 08 00531 i063Philactis zinnioides Asteraceae72Biomimetics 08 00531 i064Banisteriopsis laevifolia Malpighiaceae
63Biomimetics 08 00531 i065Vitex limonifolia Lamiaceae73Biomimetics 08 00531 i066Microcos tomentosa Malvaceae
64Biomimetics 08 00531 i067Kermadecia sinuata Proteaceae74Biomimetics 08 00531 i068Crataegus brainerdii Rosaceae
65Biomimetics 08 00531 i069Glochidion bracteatum Phyllanthaceae75Biomimetics 08 00531 i070Tetracera podotricha Dilleniaceae
66Biomimetics 08 00531 i071Populus jackii Salicaceae76Biomimetics 08 00531 i072Celtis cerasifera Cannabaceae
67Biomimetics 08 00531 i073Apeiba macropetala Malvaceae77Biomimetics 08 00531 i074Guarea tuberculata Meliaceae
68Biomimetics 08 00531 i075Tilia heterophylla Malvaceae78Biomimetics 08 00531 i076Cedrela angustifolia Meliaceae
69Biomimetics 08 00531 i077Alchornea polyantha Euphorbiaceae79Biomimetics 08 00531 i078Diospyros maritima Ebenaceae
70Biomimetics 08 00531 i079Pseudolmedia laevis Moraceae80Biomimetics 08 00531 i080Eriolaena malvacea Malvaceae
81Biomimetics 08 00531 i081Macaranga bicolor Euphorbiaceae91Biomimetics 08 00531 i082Tetracera rotundifolia Dilleniaceae
82Biomimetics 08 00531 i083Odontadenia geminata Apocynaceae92Biomimetics 08 00531 i084Calophyllum calaba
Clusiaceae
83Biomimetics 08 00531 i085Flacourtia rukam
Salicaceae
93Biomimetics 08 00531 i086Cissus caesia
Vitaceae
84Biomimetics 08 00531 i087Brasenia schreberi Cabombaceae94Biomimetics 08 00531 i088Desfontainea spinosa Desfontaineaceae
85Biomimetics 08 00531 i089Mahoberberis neubertii Berberidaceae95Biomimetics 08 00531 i090Aphaerema spicata
Salicaceae
86Biomimetics 08 00531 i091Fraxinus floribunda Oleaceae96Biomimetics 08 00531 i092Cyclea merrillii Menispermaceae
87Biomimetics 08 00531 i093Parinari campestris Chrysobalanaceae97Biomimetics 08 00531 i094Eucryphia glandulosa Cunoniaceae
88Biomimetics 08 00531 i095Melanolepis multiglandulosa Euphorbiaceae98Biomimetics 08 00531 i096Diploclisia kunstleri Menispermaceae
89Biomimetics 08 00531 i097Stenocarpus sinuatus Proteaceae99Biomimetics 08 00531 i098Buxus glomerata Buxaceae
90Biomimetics 08 00531 i099Couepia paraensis Chrysobalanaceae100Biomimetics 08 00531 i100Croton hircinus Euphorbiaceae
Table 2. Frequency values (in GHz) to be operated by the 100 antennas generated by the leaf geometries of 100 species (Spp.) illustrated in Table 1.
Table 2. Frequency values (in GHz) to be operated by the 100 antennas generated by the leaf geometries of 100 species (Spp.) illustrated in Table 1.
Spp.Frequency Values (GHz)
11.26, 1.95, 3.06, 3.72, 4.44, 5.58, 6.18, 7.23, 7.83, 8.97, 9.54, 10.77
21.05, 1.98, 3.24, 4.23, 5.25, 6.15, 7.2, 8.37, 9.18, 10.26
30.99, 1.29, 2.25, 3.36, 3.9, 5.61, 7.5, 8.07, 8.46, 9.03, 10.08
42.01, 7.71, 9.72
51.02, 2.22, 5.52, 6, 6.78, 7.59
64.53, 5.16, 7.95, 8.55, 9.06, 10.29
70.84, 3.09, 4.38, 5.1, 5.73, 6.75
82.67, 4.23, 4.98, 5.61, 7.08, 8.61
90.78, 1.44, 2.01, 2.46, 3.12, 4.05, 4.41, 5.28, 6.63, 7.17, 8.97, 10.8
100.87, 1.62, 2.4, 3.06, 3.63, 4.17, 5.76, 6.57, 7.26, 7.92, 8.46, 8.91, 9.54, 10.17
112.16, 2.7, 6.06, 7.05, 9.72, 10.92
120.87, 1.62, 2.19, 2.61, 3.3, 4.11, 9.27
130.87, 1.59, 2.34, 3.15, 4.44, 5.82, 6.51, 7.5, 7.89, 9.24, 10.02
144.53, 4.89, 5.61, 8.49, 9.66
150.72, 1.98, 2.61, 3.51, 4.23, 5.34, 5.91, 6.9, 7.56, 8.22, 8.97, 9.72
160.84, 1.5, 3.66, 4.68, 6.06, 6.72, 8.43, 9.57, 9.99
172.07, 2.64, 3.15, 4.26, 4.92, 5.46, 6, 7.38, 8.13, 9.09, 9.78
180.78, 1.47, 2.07, 2.76, 3.81, 4.92, 6.57, 7.68, 8.4, 9.21, 10.17
191.14, 2.67, 3.54, 4.68, 6.03, 6.51, 7.08, 7.65, 8.25, 9.54
201.11, 1.77, 3.12, 5.7, 7.74, 8.85, 9.72
218.88, 10.47
222.16, 2.88, 5.28, 6.33, 6.96, 7.56, 9, 9.84
232.49, 3.18, 3.84, 4.62, 5.88, 7.65, 8.49, 9.54
240.75, 1.41, 2.16, 3.39, 4.32, 4.77, 6.69, 7.44, 7.95, 8.61, 9.66, 10.38
251.2, 1.71, 2.49, 3.06, 3.87, 6.27, 8.73, 11.61
261.98, 2.49, 2.94, 3.48, 3.9, 4.53, 5.04, 5.52, 6.48, 7.08, 8.31, 9, 9.813731
271.14, 2.13, 2.91, 3.63, 7.23, 7.59, 8.19, 8.79, 9.27, 9.96
280.96, 2.43, 2.97, 3.36, 4.17, 5.4, 7.41, 10.77
292.01, 4.23, 5.58, 6.06, 7.35, 7.92, 8.37, 9.09, 9.57, 10.83
300.96, 2.19, 3.45, 4.08, 5.73, 7.32, 7.98, 8.55, 9.09, 9.66
312.07, 2.46, 2.91, 4.95, 5.67, 6.54, 7.47, 8.52, 9.3, 10.17
325.22, 6.39, 7.29, 8.16, 9.45, 10.41, 10.95
333.06, 4.08, 5.04, 6.93, 7.41, 8.16, 9.3, 9.99
340.96, 3.12, 5.7, 9.57
350.72, 2.79, 4.8, 5.55, 6.06, 6.69, 7.71, 9.21, 9.66, 10.38
360.99, 1.62, 2.07, 5.67, 6.48, 7.44, 8.13, 8.94
372.19, 3.75, 4.23, 4.77, 5.34, 5.82, 6.42, 7.17, 8.73, 9.63, 10.47
381.62, 4.98, 5.73, 6.03, 7.38, 8.97, 9.75
391.26, 2.34, 3.24, 3.63, 4.65, 5.43, 6.75, 7.26, 7.8, 8.36, 8.91, 9.51, 10.02
401.05, 3.09, 3.48, 4.17, 4.65, 5.22, 6.51, 7.14, 8.55, 9.06, 9.66, 10.65
412.97, 4.26, 5.46, 6.6, 7.83, 9.12
421.59, 2.34, 2.76, 5.31, 5.94, 6.48, 7.56, 8.7, 9.84
431.32, 2.55, 6.12, 7.35, 8.55, 9.54
441.29, 2.7, 3.9, 4.95, 6.36, 7.59, 8.31, 9, 9.57, 10.95
451.71, 6.75, 7.5, 8.19, 8.91
460.9, 1.74, 2.46, 3.3, 4.62, 5.91, 6.51, 6.99, 7.47, 8.28, 9, 9.75
471.08, 1.95, 2.76, 4.14, 5.34, 5.91, 6.51, 8.4, 9.9
480.96, 1.53, 2.43, 3.06, 3.54, 4.35, 4.98, 5.64, 7.8, 9.57, 10.65
491.2, 1.83, 2.34, 3.27, 4.02, 4.83, 6.36, 6.99, 8.25, 8.97, 10.32
506.36, 7.56, 8.4, 8.82, 9.48, 9.87
511.23, 2.61, 4.56, 5.94, 7.74, 9.12, 9.84
521.2, 2.28, 2.91, 4.41, 5.31, 7.2, 8.19, 9.36
530.81, 1.77, 2.7, 3.27, 4.11, 5.04, 5.67, 6.21, 7.47, 8.43, 9.48
540.93, 1.59, 2.16, 2.67, 3.48, 4.56, 5.28, 6.33, 6.96, 7.86, 9.03, 9.87
553.39, 3.93, 4.62, 5.4, 8.73
562.76, 3.42, 4.2, 4.74, 5.19, 6.3, 7.44, 8.46, 8.88, 9.81
572.04, 2.49, 3.21, 4.23, 5.91, 6.57, 9, 9.81
584.41, 5.46, 6.06, 7.59, 8.1, 8.67, 9.66
590.93, 1.83, 2.7, 3.57, 4.38, 5.01, 5.64, 6.24, 7.2, 8.76
601.02, 1.95, 3.03, 3.66, 4.17, 4.89, 5.25, 6.63, 8.1, 8.79, 9.51
611.68, 2.22, 2.88, 3.69, 4.32, 4.71, 6.21, 10.02
622.1, 9.48
630.66, 1.26, 2.31, 3.27, 3.9, 4.89, 5.4, 5.85, 6.676, 7.56, 8.67, 9.42
642.01, 2.97, 3.63, 4.17, 5.13, 5.88, 6.81, 7.83, 8.55, 9.36, 9.9
651.05, 1.98, 3.54, 4.05, 5.49, 6, 6.57, 7.38, 7.92, 8.76, 9.69
661.02, 1.86, 2.64, 3.18, 4.38, 4.95, 5.91, 6.57, 9.12, 9.63
670.78, 1.47, 3.18, 3.72, 4.41, 5.88, 6.84, 8.79, 9.96
680.84, 2.52, 3.06, 4.2, 4.71, 6.18, 6.51, 7.38
691.77, 2.25, 3.09, 3.63, 4.86, 5.43, 6.12, 6.84, 7.74, 8.94, 10.05
700.9, 1.65, 2.43, 3.45, 4.53, 5.61, 6.45, 7.62, 8.67, 9.6, 10.62
710.93, 1.8, 2.46, 3.51, 4.32, 5.34, 6.3, 7.35, 7.89, 8.46, 9.24, 9.57, 10.41
720.81, 2.07, 4.47, 5.19, 6, 6.84, 7.86, 9.09, 9.6, 10.86
730.81, 2.31, 3.161, 3.78, 4.83, 5.67, 6.54, 7.59, 7.92, 8.58, 9.9, 10.41
742.43, 3.48, 4.14, 4.62, 5.19, 5.79, 6.12, 7.35, 7.83, 8.61, 9.54, 10.02
750.69, 2.34, 2.88, 4.11, 4.71, 6.66, 8.55, 9.06, 9.45, 10.92
760.96, 1.596, 1.89, 4.08, 4.74, 5.37, 6, 6.75, 8.79, 9.48, 10.29
770.9, 1.59, 2.19, 2.55, 3.84, 4.41, 5.28, 6.54, 7.11, 8.46, 9.57, 10.8
780.84, 2.49, 3, 3.96, 5.64, 5.97, 6.51, 8.37, 9.69, 10.32
790.96, 1.68, 3.03, 3.99, 5.94, 6.93, 8.01, 9.01, 9.96, 10.44
802.07, 4.38, 5.46, 6.54, 7.8, 8.22, 9.12, 9.78, 10.23, 10.74
810.93, 1.71, 3.03, 4.65, 5.28, 5.97, 8.49
820.84, 1.59, 2.16, 3.15, 3.72, 4.32, 5.46, 6.51, 7.71, 9.42
830.84, 1.44, 1.95, 2.49, 3.48, 4.05, 4.56, 5.46, 6.45, 6.96, 7.53, 8.64, 9.45, 10.47
840.9, 1.56, 4.14, 5.13, 5.85, 6.78, 7.2, 8.01, 10.77
850.84, 3.21, 3.72, 6.27, 6.75, 8.31, 8.91
861.68, 2.58, 3.39, 4.53, 5.64, 5.94, 6.9, 7.77, 9.21, 10.02
870.78, 2.04, 3.87, 4.74, 6.57, 7.11, 7.68, 8.28, 8.88, 9.33, 10.2
882.28, 3.3, 3.66, 4.35, 4.83, 5.61, 8.43, 9.93
890.57, 1.11, 1.65, 2.4, 4.08, 4.71, 5.46, 6, 6.87, 7.89, 9.24, 10.38
900.96, 1.83, 2.55, 3.09, 3.96, 4.8, 6, 7.44, 8.37, 9.57
910.72, 1.26, 1.86, 2.4, 2.94, 3.54, 4.11, 5.61, 6.3, 6.93, 7.56, 8.52, 8.94, 9.51, 9.99
920.63, 1.23, 1.83, 2.46, 2.97, 3.51, 4.47, 4.89, 5.97, 6.84, 7.35, 8.13, 9.33, 9.63, 10.86
931.5, 2.61, 3.45, 4.14, 4.71, 5.88, 7.5, 8.58, 9.81
940.9, 1.71, 2.46, 2.79, 3.42, 5.04, 6.57, 7.17, 7.27, 9.18, 10.29
951.56, 2.6, 4.95, 5.67, 6.54, 7.38, 8.25, 8.94, 9.6, 10.11
961.2, 2.82, 7.29, 7.98, 8.4, 9.24, 9.9, 10.65
970.75, 1.98, 2.7, 3.12, 3.75, 4.92, 6.06, 6.72, 7.2, 7.83, 8.61, 9.45, 10.26
980.75, 1.26, 1.98, 2.76, 3.24, 4.32, 5.97, 6.69, 7.5, 9.33, 10.08
994.11, 5.1, 5.55, 6.15, 6.75, 7.5, 8.67, 9.72
1002.22, 2.82, 3.12, 4.83, 5.19, 6.81, 7.65, 8.64, 9.66, 10.35
Table 3. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate between 0.6 GHz and 1 GHz.
Table 3. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate between 0.6 GHz and 1 GHz.
1 345 7 910
111213 1516 181920
22 24252627282930
31 34353637383940
4243444546474849
525354 56 5960
61 63 65666768 70
71727374757677787980
8182838485 87888990
9192939495969798 100
Table 4. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate in the L band (1–2 GHz).
Table 4. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate in the L band (1–2 GHz).
123 5 910
1213 1516 181920
24252627
36 383940
4243444546474849
51525354 5960
61 63 656667 6970
71 7677 79
81828384 86 8990
9192939495969798
Table 5. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate in the S band (2–4 GHz).
Table 5. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate in the S band (2–4 GHz).
12345 78910
111213 151617181920
222324252627282930
31 3334353637 3940
41424344 46474849
51525354555657 5960
61626364656667686970
7172737475 77787980
818283 858687888990
9192939495969798 100
Table 6. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate in the C band (4–8 GHz).
Table 6. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate in the C band (4–8 GHz).
12345678910
11121314151617181920
222324252627282930
31323334353637383940
41424344454647484950
51525354555657585960
61 6364656667686970
71727374757677787980
81828384858687888990
919293949596979899100
Table 7. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate in the X band (8–12 GHz).
Table 7. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate in the X band (8–12 GHz).
1234 6 8910
11121314151617181920
21222324252627282930
31323334353637383940
41424344454647484950
51525354555657585960
61626364656667 6970
71727374757677787980
81828384858687888990
919293949596979899100
Table 8. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate at frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
Table 8. Antenna elements based on the leaf geometries that operate at frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
FrequencyLeaf Geometries or Antenna Elements
2.4 GHz910132325
2839424649
5763707173
7475788389
9192
5 GHz78171833
3844535966
959799
Both26314894
Table 9. Comparative analysis of the performance of each plant leaf design.
Table 9. Comparative analysis of the performance of each plant leaf design.
Plant Leaf or Antenna ElementGeometryDesign ImpactOperation Frequencies below 10 GHz (GHz)
Tetrapterys macrocarpa Malpighiaceaeellipticsix frequency bands below 5 GHz0.87, 1.62, 2.19, 2.61, 3.3, 4.11, 9.27
Quercus alba Fagaceaepinnately lobedwidest frequency band2.49, 3.18, 3.84, 4.62, 5.88, 7.65, 8.49, 9.54
Cissampelos owariensis Menispermaceaecircular basebetter radiation characteristics1.2, 1.71, 2.49, 3.06, 3.87, 6.27, 8.73, 11.61
Liquidambar styraciflua Hamamelidaceaelobed leavesseven frequency bands below 10 GHz2.01, 4.23, 5.58, 6.06, 7.35, 7.92, 8.37, 9.09, 9.57, 10.83
Sarcoshachis naranjoana Piperaceaeovateeight frequency bands below 10 GHz1.26, 2.34, 3.24, 3.63, 4.65, 5.43, 6.75, 7.26, 7.8, 8.36, 8.91, 9.51, 10.02
Paranomus spectrum Proteaceaeobovatebest behavior for high frequencies1.59, 2.34, 2.76, 5.31, 5.94, 6.48, 7.56, 8.7, 9.84
Cesearia ilicifolia Salicaceaetoothedmore freq. bands (below 10 GHz)0.9, 1.74, 2.46, 3.3, 4.62, 5.91, 6.51, 6.99, 7.47, 8.28, 9.00, 9.75
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Lozano, J.I.; Panduro, M.A.; Méndez-Alonzo, R.; Alonso-Arevalo, M.A.; Conte, R.; Reyna, A. Plant Foliar Geometry as a Biomimetic Template for Antenna Design. Biomimetics 2023, 8, 531. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8070531

AMA Style

Lozano JI, Panduro MA, Méndez-Alonzo R, Alonso-Arevalo MA, Conte R, Reyna A. Plant Foliar Geometry as a Biomimetic Template for Antenna Design. Biomimetics. 2023; 8(7):531. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8070531

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lozano, Jose Ignacio, Marco A. Panduro, Rodrigo Méndez-Alonzo, Miguel A. Alonso-Arevalo, Roberto Conte, and Alberto Reyna. 2023. "Plant Foliar Geometry as a Biomimetic Template for Antenna Design" Biomimetics 8, no. 7: 531. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8070531

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop