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Synthesis and fabrication of (1 − x)ZnAl2O4–xSiO2 thin films to be applied as patch antennas

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Abstract

Zinc aluminate compounds have been dispersed in silica matrix prepared by sol-gel method with different compositions for (1 − x)ZnAl2O4–xSiO2. Continuous stirring of ethylene glycol solution contained zinc nitrate, aluminium nitrate and silicon dioxide to produces gel precursor. Structural and morphological studies of (1 − x)ZnAl2O4–xSiO2 thin films were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis. The FESEM images showed the spherical structures with porosity for (1 − x)ZnAl2O4–xSiO2 thin films. XRD analysis indicated that the crystallite size for (1 − x)ZnAl2O4–xSiO2 increased from 39.79 to 44.34 nm. Fourier transform infra-red analysis showed that the existence of H2O molecules and the presence of nitrate group within the samples. Dielectric permittivity (ε r ) of (1 − x)ZnAl2O4–xSiO2 samples were measured within frequency range from 1 Hz to 1 MHz. The dielectric permittivity, ε r decreased as frequency was applied to the sample. The performance of the patch antenna can be measured using return loss analysis. The highest result shows that the patch antenna resonated at frequency 3.46 GHz and gives −14.25 dB return loss bandwidth.

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Acknowledgments

This project is fully carried out in the Laboratory of Photonics, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The performance of patch antenna was fully carried out in the Laboratory of Institute of Space Science (ANGKASA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical, Electronic and System Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Huda Abdullah, Mohd Syafiq Zulfakar & Wan Nasarudin Wan Jalal

  2. Institute of Space Science (ANGKASA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Mohammad Tariqul Islam

  3. Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Sahbudin Shaari

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  1. Huda Abdullah
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Correspondence to Huda Abdullah.

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Abdullah, H., Zulfakar, M.S., Wan Jalal, W.N. et al. Synthesis and fabrication of (1 − x)ZnAl2O4–xSiO2 thin films to be applied as patch antennas. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 69, 183–192 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-013-3202-7

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