Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.0
2.9
Journals
Electronics
Special Issues
Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging...
share announcement

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: 15 August 2026 | Viewed by 8440

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-anonymized 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

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2147 KB  
Article
An Efficient Two-Stage Method for Correcting 3-D Positioning Errors of the Measuring Probe in a Non-Redundant Spherical Scan
by Francesco D’Agostino, Flaminio Ferrara, Claudio Gennarelli, Rocco Guerriero, Massimo Migliozzi and Luigi Pascarella
Electronics 2026, 15(13), 2961; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15132961 - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
A robust procedure for compensating for inaccuracies caused by 3-D positioning errors in the measurement of the near-field (NF) data required by the non-redundant (NR) spherical near-to-far-field (NtFF) transformations for long antennas is presented in this article. These errors may arise from hardware [...] Read more.
A robust procedure for compensating for inaccuracies caused by 3-D positioning errors in the measurement of the near-field (NF) data required by the non-redundant (NR) spherical near-to-far-field (NtFF) transformations for long antennas is presented in this article. These errors may arise from hardware defects and positioners’ controlling inaccuracies, which may cause the probe to deviate from the intended spherical scan surface and prevent it from reaching the NR sampling points required by either of the two NR representations for long antennas. To account for these errors, the method proceeds through two steps. The first step, called spherical wave correction, compensates for the phase shifts due to radial displacements from the intended scanning sphere. As a result of this correction, the NF samples belong to the intended scanning sphere, but at points different from those required by the adopted NR representation, thus impairing the subsequent NF reconstruction via the optimal sampling interpolation (OSI) algorithm. Such an algorithm enables one to efficiently build the iterative scheme used in the second step, which makes it possible to effectively retrieve the NF samples at the prescribed NR positions. Test results are shown to numerically validate the capability of the developed two-step compensation technique to correct even significant and pessimistic 3-D positioning errors affecting the collection of the NF data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
10 pages, 2775 KB  
Article
A Reconfigurable Monopole Antenna Based on a Triangular Cylindrical Origami Structure
by Massimo Donelli, Sreedevi Menon and Viviana Mulloni
Electronics 2026, 15(13), 2914; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15132914 - 3 Jul 2026
Viewed by 145
Abstract
This work presents the design of a deployable reconfigurable monopole antenna based on a triangular cylindrical origami structure (TCO). TCO structures are three-dimensional geometries able to modify their structure if subjected to specific solicitations. They are particularly useful for the design of deployable [...] Read more.
This work presents the design of a deployable reconfigurable monopole antenna based on a triangular cylindrical origami structure (TCO). TCO structures are three-dimensional geometries able to modify their structure if subjected to specific solicitations. They are particularly useful for the design of deployable antennas in satellite communication applications. A TCO structure begins from a two-dimensional base composed of an N-faced polygon around which are triangles arranged in a circular pattern to give the structure a cylindrical shape once assembled. The structure is closed with an upper face that can move when stressed. In fact, by applying a force on the upper face, the structure can bend through a combined movement of rotation and translation, expanding or contracting its physical length and consequently the operative frequency. The use of a TCO structure provides a light, cheap, compact, and reconfigurable monopole antenna, particularly suitable for satellite applications. Moreover, by using multiple TCO segments that can be singularly activated, it is possible to control the antenna’s electrical length and consequently obtain a frequency reconfigurable antenna. To demonstrate the effectiveness of such a structure, an antenna prototype based on a TCO is been designed, fabricated, and numerically and experimentally assessed. The obtained results demonstrate the potentialities of such antenna, especially for satellite communication applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4226 KB  
Article
Development of Structures to Minimize GNSS Antenna Sensitivity on Mounting Platforms
by Veenu Tripathi, Christian Inderst, Simon Hehenberger, Wahid Elmarissi and Stefano Caizzone
Electronics 2026, 15(12), 2651; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15122651 - 15 Jun 2026
Viewed by 162
Abstract
This paper presents a novel design approach for mitigating the adverse effects of antenna mountings on the radiation pattern of GNSS antennas. By employing a resistive structure integrated into the ground plane, the proposed solution suppresses unwanted edge diffraction and near-field reflections caused [...] Read more.
This paper presents a novel design approach for mitigating the adverse effects of antenna mountings on the radiation pattern of GNSS antennas. By employing a resistive structure integrated into the ground plane, the proposed solution suppresses unwanted edge diffraction and near-field reflections caused by nearby mounting hardware. The design is developed using the concept of tapered resistive sheets and optimized using a customized cost function that accounts for pattern degradation across multiple realistic mounting configurations, ensuring robust performance under varying installation conditions. The resulting structure is fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM), enabling precise realization of complex resistive profiles with tailored surface impedance. Comprehensive validation through both electromagnetic simulations and experimental measurements demonstrates significant improvements in radiation pattern stability and reduced sensitivity to near-field objects, particularly in critical GNSS bands such as E5a/L5 and E1/L1. The results demonstrate that the proposed structure significantly enhances antenna reliability and calibration integrity in real-world deployments, offering a practical, hardware-based solution to a persistent challenge in high-precision GNSS systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

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
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 593
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)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

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
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 927
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)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

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 1081
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)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

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 1037
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)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

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 1303
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)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

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 5 | Viewed by 1588
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)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 7234 KB  
Review
A Review of Advanced Antennas with Experimental Ground-Penetrating Radar Applications
by Abdelhalim Chaabane, Djelloul Aissaoui, Lakhmissi Cherroun and Giovanni Angiulli
Electronics 2026, 15(11), 2393; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15112393 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 408
Abstract
Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) serves as an essential non-destructive tool for subsurface exploration, and its antenna system largely determines the performance of the overall system. This paper presents a comprehensive review of advanced GPR antenna technologies, examining six major types: Vivaldi, bowtie, tapered, dipole, [...] Read more.
Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) serves as an essential non-destructive tool for subsurface exploration, and its antenna system largely determines the performance of the overall system. This paper presents a comprehensive review of advanced GPR antenna technologies, examining six major types: Vivaldi, bowtie, tapered, dipole, envelope, and spiral. This analysis shows that trade-offs among these antennas are unavoidable. High-frequency wideband antennas deliver high gain, but their penetration depth is limited to very shallow targets. Some wideband designs achieve wide bandwidth and reasonable gain with compact footprints, while others are suited for detecting embedded metallic objects. By comparison, low-frequency designs operating in the VHF and UHF bands enable very deep penetration, making them suitable for detecting deeply buried targets in lossy media and subsurface utilities. However, deep penetration often comes at the cost of lower gain or larger physical size. Ultimately, no universal antenna exists; the optimal choice depends on whether depth, resolution, or adaptability to attenuating environments is prioritized. Emerging metasurface-integrated and frequency-selective surface (FSS)-backed antennas represent a promising frontier, enabling better bandwidth, gain, and compactness. Ongoing challenges include miniaturization without compromising performance, reliable operation in heterogeneous and lossy soils, and the development of robust, manufacturable designs for field deployment. This review offers researchers and practitioners a structured reference, guiding the development of next-generation GPR systems that balance deeper penetration, higher resolution, and operational versatility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Antenna Technologies: Novel Design Techniques and Emerging Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-10
Back to TopTop