Reconfigurable paper-based metamaterial antenna: Structural transition from 2D to 3D

Paper-based electronics offer a simple and cost-effective means to fabricate reconfigurable devices. In response to the problem of fixed shape and single function of most antennas, which limits their applications, a reconfigurable paper-based metamaterial antenna with 2D and 3D forms is presented for tunable operating frequency. The proposed antenna consists of two square split resonant rings fed by a coplanar waveguide. The working frequency of the 2D antenna is adjusted by the length, width, and opening size of the internal open resonant ring. While the folding angle of the antenna turns from 0° to 90°, the operating frequency of the paper-based metamaterial antenna changes from 2.759 to 4.223 GHz. In terms of 3D form, an additional resonant peak is generated by bending the paper-based metamaterial antenna, thus further realizing dual-band antenna design. After a simple process flow, a series of proposed antennas are fabricated and evaluated. The simulated and measured results both demonstrate that the proposed antenna has a good performance in turning the working band. The environment-friendly nature and pliability of paper, as well as simple fabrication procedures, make paper-based metamaterial promising candidates for future green electronics.