Recent Advancements of Millimeter-Wave Antennas and Antenna Arrays

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2025 | Viewed by 1079

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. WiSAR Lab, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), F92 YY97 Donegal, Ireland
2. Letterkenny, Co., F92 YY97 Donegal, Ireland
Interests: antenna design and wireless communication systems; emphasizing developing compact; high-performance antennas for innovative applications

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. WiSAR Lab, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), F92 YY97 Donegal, Ireland
2. Letterkenny, Co., F92 YY97 Donegal, Ireland
Interests: dielectric measurement of MW absorber materials; planar printed antenna for MW, mm-wave, and THz frequency bands; metamaterial array UWB antennas in MW and UWB imaging; wearable technology

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. WiSAR Lab, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), F92 YY97 Donegal, Ireland
2. Letterkenny, Co., F92 YY97 Donegal, Ireland
Interests: 5G/6G future wireless networks; antennas; body area networks (BAN); wearable antenna design; ultra-low power communication protocols (MAC and network/routing protocols); satellite communications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology has gained significant attention in recent years due to its essential role in next-generation communication systems such as 5G, 6G, and beyond and its applications in radar, imaging, and sensing technologies. Millimeter-wave technology offers the potential for ultra-high data rates, improved resolution, and precise detection in a compact form factor. However, developing millimeter-wave antennas and antenna arrays has challenges such as high path loss, limited efficiency, and complex design and fabrication requirements. Addressing these challenges is critical to fully realizing the potential of mmWave systems in both commercial and scientific applications. This Special Issue aims to explore the recent advancements in mmWave antenna design, fabrication, and application, showcasing state-of-the-art research in this rapidly evolving field.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers and engineers to share the latest innovations in mmWave antenna and antenna array design, from theoretical developments to practical implementations. The scope aligns with the broader goals of the Electronics journal, focusing on advancing electronic systems and components, with a particular emphasis on high-frequency antennas and related technologies. By publishing original research and review articles, this issue will contribute to developing efficient, high-performance millimeter-wave antennas that enable innovative applications in wireless communication, radar systems, imaging, and sensing technologies.

This Special Issue invites contributions in various areas of millimeter-wave antenna research, including but not limited to:

  • Design and optimization of millimeter-wave antennas and antenna arrays for 5G/6G communication;
  • Compact and efficient mmWave antennas for wearable and body-centric applications;
  • Innovative fabrication techniques for millimeter-wave antenna structures;
  • Advanced materials for high-performance millimeter-wave antennas;
  • Beamforming and beam-steering techniques for mmWave antenna arrays;
  • Reconfigurable and adaptive millimeter-wave antennas;
  • mmWave antenna integration with devices and systems;
  • Millimeter-wave antennas for radar, imaging, remote sensing, and UAV communication applications;
  • Metamaterials and metasurfaces for enhancing millimeter-wave antenna performance;
  • Numerical modeling, simulation, and experimental validation of mmWave antennas.

We welcome original research articles, review papers, and short communications that address any of these topics. This Special Issue aims to combine a collection of high-quality, innovative papers to advance knowledge in millimeter-wave antenna technologies.

Dr. Sahar Saleh
Dr. Tale Saeidi
Dr. Nick Timmons
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • mmWave antennas and arrays
  • beamforming techniques
  • beam steering techniques
  • MIMO antennas
  • metamaterials
  • metasurfaces
  • wearable antennas
  • UAV communication, imaging technologies and sensing technologies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 5956 KiB  
Article
A Grating Lobe Near-Field Image Enhancement Method: Sparse Reconstruction Based on Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers
by Yuanhao Wang, Jun Wang, Penghui Chen, Guidong He and Jiacheng He
Electronics 2025, 14(8), 1514; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14081514 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 337
Abstract
In this study, a new sparse reconstruction algorithm based on near-field imaging is proposed to solve the grating lobe problem arising from sparse arrays. It derives the expression of the steering vector under near-field conditions and formulates the optimization problem. Moreover, the problem, [...] Read more.
In this study, a new sparse reconstruction algorithm based on near-field imaging is proposed to solve the grating lobe problem arising from sparse arrays. It derives the expression of the steering vector under near-field conditions and formulates the optimization problem. Moreover, the problem, by using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), is efficiently solved. Experiment results indicate that, in comparison to existing methods such as the phase coherent factor (PCF) and sum and difference beams, the proposed method significantly reduces the impact caused by grating lobes in near-field imaging. In addition, the proposed algorithm is accelerated by the ADMM, which significantly reduces the computational time. This work offers a perspective and potential solution to enhance grating lobe images. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements of Millimeter-Wave Antennas and Antenna Arrays)
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Review

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26 pages, 389 KiB  
Review
Recent Advancements in Millimeter-Wave Antennas and Arrays: From Compact Wearable Designs to Beam-Steering Technologies
by Faisal Mehmood and Asif Mehmood
Electronics 2025, 14(13), 2705; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14132705 - 4 Jul 2025
Abstract
Millimeter-wave (mmWave) antennas and antenna arrays have gained significant attention due to their pivotal role in emerging wireless communication, sensing, and imaging technologies. With the rapid deployment of 5G and the transition toward 6G networks, the demand for compact, high-gain, and reconfigurable mmWave [...] Read more.
Millimeter-wave (mmWave) antennas and antenna arrays have gained significant attention due to their pivotal role in emerging wireless communication, sensing, and imaging technologies. With the rapid deployment of 5G and the transition toward 6G networks, the demand for compact, high-gain, and reconfigurable mmWave antennas has intensified. This article highlights recent advancements in mmWave antenna technologies, including hybrid beamforming using phased arrays, dynamic beam-steering enabled by liquid crystal and MEMS-based structures, and high-capacity MIMO architectures. We also examine the integration of metamaterials and metasurfaces for miniaturization and gain enhancement. Applications covered include wearable antennas with low-SAR textile substrates, conformal antennas for UAV-based mmWave relays, and high-resolution radar arrays for autonomous vehicles. The study further analyzes innovative fabrication methods such as inkjet and aerosol jet printing, micromachining, and laser direct structuring, along with advanced materials like Kapton, PDMS, and graphene. Numerical modeling techniques such as full-wave EM simulation and machine learning-based optimization are discussed alongside experimental validation approaches. Beyond communications, we assess mmWave systems for biomedical imaging, security screening, and industrial sensing. Key challenges addressed include efficiency degradation at high frequencies, interference mitigation in dense environments, and system-level integration. Finally, future directions, including AI-driven design automation, intelligent reconfigurable surfaces, and integration with quantum and terahertz technologies, are outlined. This comprehensive synthesis aims to serve as a valuable reference for advancing next-generation mmWave antenna systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements of Millimeter-Wave Antennas and Antenna Arrays)
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