Sustainable dielectric substrates for microstrip patch antennas: A comparative analysis

Abstract

In this paper, a valuable evaluation of four common substrate materials Rogers RT5870, PTFE, PEC, and FR4 will be presented in combination with the microstrip patch antennas at the frequency range of 2-3 GHz. As environmental sustainability in electronic design becomes more and more popular, the paper discusses the RF performance of every substrate in terms of return loss (S11) and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) as well as its environmental sustainability in terms of measures like recyclability, material toxicity, and lifecycle footprint. The analyses in simulation by using CST Studio Suite 2023 will bring the fairness of all materials. The PTFE and Rogers RT5870 also perform better in RF, but FR4 also has a reasonable RF performance at a lower cost hence can be used in low-cost designs. PEC is a theoretical standard, which is not practical to implement in reality. The outcomes underscore the necessity to have a balanced performance and sustainability that will help in the development of green electronics and environmentally friendly antenna system.