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Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging...
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Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Microwave and Wireless Communications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 3404

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Chaouki Hannachi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Provence Institute of Materials, Microelectronics Nanoscience (IM2NP) Research Center, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
Interests: RFID; antennas and microwave engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antennas have attracted increasing attention in various wireless communication applications, including radars, sensor networks, microwave imaging, and satellites, making antenna technology a key element in modern electronic and microwave systems. In this context, antennas are required to meet more and more rigorous specifications, such as a low weight, low manufacturing cost, low profile, and ease of integration with other integrated circuits. One of the aims of this Special Issue is to present the current trends of antenna technologies while showing novel design techniques and emerging applications for next-generation wireless communication systems. This Special Issue will also discuss the recent developments made in new antenna design solutions and cost-effective manufacturing techniques to meet the requirements of several practical 6G wireless applications.

We invite researchers and authors to submit original research and review articles on the following key topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Novel microwave, millimeter-wave and terahertz antenna designs;
  2. Antenna design for 5G/6G applications;
  3. Antenna design for RFID applications;
  4. Antenna design solutions for the Internet of Things and the Internet of Medical Things;
  5. Antenna sensors for passive wireless sensing systems;
  6. Flexible antenna designs for wearable applications;
  7. Reconfigurable antenna systems;
  8. Multiband antennas;
  9. Screen-printed antennas;
  10. Lens antennas for 5G/6G wireless communications systems;
  11. 3D-printed antennas and structures;
  12. Antenna optimization and miniaturization techniques;
  13. Antenna measurement techniques and systems.

Dr. Chaouki Hannachi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Electronics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antenna design
  • applications
  • miniaturization
  • new advancements
  • integration
  • IoT
  • 5G
  • 6G
  • wireless communications
  • technology

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 6118 KB  
Communication
A Bidirectional Right-Hand Circularly Polarized Endfire Antenna Array for 5G Tunnel Communications
by Wenbo Li, Haitao Lu, Peng Xu and Xiao Cai
Electronics 2026, 15(2), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15020374 - 15 Jan 2026
Abstract
For 5G tunnel communications, antennas often face critical challenges arising from severe path loss and multipath fading in confined environments, as well as polarization mismatch under dynamic propagation conditions. This paper proposes a 3.5-GHz circularly polarized (CP) endfire antenna array with bidirectional right-hand [...] Read more.
For 5G tunnel communications, antennas often face critical challenges arising from severe path loss and multipath fading in confined environments, as well as polarization mismatch under dynamic propagation conditions. This paper proposes a 3.5-GHz circularly polarized (CP) endfire antenna array with bidirectional right-hand CP radiation, featuring high gain, low profile, and compact configuration. The array is implemented on a single-layer F4B substrate and integrates eight pairs of electric and magnetic dipoles to synthesize orthogonal linear field components required for CP radiation. By applying the extended method of maximum power transmission efficiency, constraints on the amplitude and phase are introduced to maximize the CP gain in the endfire direction. A 16-element linear array prototype is fabricated and tested for validation. Measurement results show that the proposed array achieves a bidirectional right-hand CP endfire gain exceeding 12.2 dBic, an impedance bandwidth from 3.1 to 3.78 GHz, and a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 19.5%, demonstrating its suitability for 5G tunnel communication applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
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10 pages, 11941 KB  
Article
A Reconfigurable Analog Beamformer for Multi-Frequency, Multiantenna GNSS Applications
by Ivan Klammsteiner, Ernest Ofosu Addo, Veenu Tripathi and Stefano Caizzone
Electronics 2026, 15(2), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15020289 - 8 Jan 2026
Viewed by 169
Abstract
A reconfigurable analog beamformer for the use case of multiband Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) multiantenna receiver systems is designed and tested. The beamformer board operates in all existing GNSS frequency bands. In this paper, the two commonly used GNSS bands, the E1/L1 [...] Read more.
A reconfigurable analog beamformer for the use case of multiband Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) multiantenna receiver systems is designed and tested. The beamformer board operates in all existing GNSS frequency bands. In this paper, the two commonly used GNSS bands, the E1/L1 and E5a/L5 GNSS bands at 1.575 GHz and 1.176 GHz, respectively, are studied. An analog weighting of the complex excitation of up to 14 individual channels is realized using attenuators and phase shifters, digitally controlled by proprietary PC software. We present an analysis of the relative errors between the channels and a simple calibration of constant errors which is applied and validated. The beamformer is then demonstrated in an exemplary test case, to generate an ad hoc pattern from an array of antennas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
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11 pages, 2336 KB  
Article
A Novel Feeding Technique for a Quadrifilar Helix Antenna
by Alessandro Di-Carlofelice, Emidio Di-Giampaolo and Piero Tognolatti
Electronics 2026, 15(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15010028 - 21 Dec 2025
Viewed by 204
Abstract
This paper proposes a novel method for feeding a half-turn quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA) operating in backfire mode. A self-phasing and self-supporting antenna is obtained using a specific method demonstrated numerically. Four straight parallel wires, by which a couple of short-circuited stubs are [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a novel method for feeding a half-turn quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA) operating in backfire mode. A self-phasing and self-supporting antenna is obtained using a specific method demonstrated numerically. Four straight parallel wires, by which a couple of short-circuited stubs are realized and connected in series with helix loops, constitute both the mast of the QHA and the feeding network. A prototype operating at 1 GHz is designed, realized, and measured. The results show a good axial ratio (measured cross-polar gain is about 25 dB below the co-polar one at the boresight) and good impedance matching over an adequately large frequency band. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
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17 pages, 25231 KB  
Article
Low-Cost and Fully Metallic Reconfigurable Leaky-Wave Antenna Based on 3D-Printing Technology for Multi-Beam Operation
by Miguel Díaz-Martín, Carlos Molero, Ginés Martínez-García and Marcos Baena-Molina
Electronics 2025, 14(23), 4723; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14234723 - 30 Nov 2025
Viewed by 387
Abstract
Global data consumption is experiencing exponential growth, driving the demand for wireless links with higher transmission speeds, lower latency, and support for emerging applications such as 6G. A promising approach to address these requirements is the use of higher-frequency bands, which in turn [...] Read more.
Global data consumption is experiencing exponential growth, driving the demand for wireless links with higher transmission speeds, lower latency, and support for emerging applications such as 6G. A promising approach to address these requirements is the use of higher-frequency bands, which in turn necessitates the development of advanced antenna systems. This work presents the design and experimental validation of a reconfigurable, low-cost leaky-wave antenna capable of controlling the propagation direction of single-, dual-, and triple-beam configurations in the FR3 frequency band. The antenna employs slotted periodic patterns to enable directional electromagnetic field leakage, and it is based on a cost-effective and simple 3D-printing fabrication process. Laboratory testing confirms the theoretical and simulated predictions, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed antenna solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
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21 pages, 4092 KB  
Article
Enabling Scalable and Manufacturable Large-Scale Antenna Arrays Through Hexagonal Subarray Implementation over Goldberg Polyhedra
by Santiago Loza-Morcillo and José Luis Blanco-Murillo
Electronics 2025, 14(23), 4618; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14234618 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 787
Abstract
We introduce a scalable and manufacturable approach to conformal large-scale antenna arrays, leveraging Goldberg Polyhedra configurations with hexagonal subarrays to enable cost-effective, high-performance beam steering. Planar array designs face challenges in phase control and beam deformation when steering away from the broadside, leading [...] Read more.
We introduce a scalable and manufacturable approach to conformal large-scale antenna arrays, leveraging Goldberg Polyhedra configurations with hexagonal subarrays to enable cost-effective, high-performance beam steering. Planar array designs face challenges in phase control and beam deformation when steering away from the broadside, leading to increased beamwidth and degraded angular resolution. Our near-spherical Goldberg structures offer a fabrication-friendly, periodic architecture that supports industrial scalability while enabling efficient 360° digital beamforming with minimal distortion. Simulation results confirm significant reductions in sidelobe levels and improved energy concentration, providing enhanced multibeam capabilities and simplified digital beamforming (DBF) control. This approach paves the way for next-generation radar and satellite systems requiring precise directional control, minimal interference, and robust, flexible beam steering performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
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17 pages, 7597 KB  
Article
Screen-Printed 1 × 4 Quasi-Yagi-Uda Antenna Array on Highly Flexible Transparent Substrate for the Emerging 5G Applications
by Matthieu Egels, Anton Venouil, Chaouki Hannachi, Philippe Pannier, Mohammed Benwadih and Christophe Serbutoviez
Electronics 2025, 14(14), 2850; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14142850 - 16 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1111
Abstract
In the Internet of Things (IoT) era, the demand for cost-effective, flexible, wearable antennas and circuits has been growing. Accordingly, screen-printing techniques are becoming more popular due to their lower costs and high-volume manufacturing. This paper presents and investigates a full-screen-printed 1 × [...] Read more.
In the Internet of Things (IoT) era, the demand for cost-effective, flexible, wearable antennas and circuits has been growing. Accordingly, screen-printing techniques are becoming more popular due to their lower costs and high-volume manufacturing. This paper presents and investigates a full-screen-printed 1 × 4 Quasi-Yagi-Uda antenna array on a high-transparency flexible Zeonor thin-film substrate for emerging 26 GHz band (24.25–27.55 GHz) 5G applications. As part of this study, screen-printing implementation rules are developed by properly managing ink layer thickness on a transparent flexible Zeonor thin-film dielectric to achieve a decent antenna array performance. In addition, a screen-printing repeatability study has been carried out through a performance comparison of 24 antenna array samples manufactured by our research partner from CEA-Liten Grenoble. Despite the challenging antenna array screen printing at higher frequencies, the measured results show a good antenna performance as anticipated from the traditional subtractive printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing process using standard substrates. It shows a wide-band matched input impedance from 22–28 GHz (i.e., 23% of relative band-width) and a maximum realized gain of 12.8 dB at 27 GHz. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
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