International Journal of Engineering
Trends and Technology

Research Article | Open Access | Download PDF
Volume 74 | Issue 9 | Year 2026 | Article Id. IJETT-V74I9P135 | DOI : https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V74I9P135

Design and Analysis of a Hexagonal Patch Antenna with Integrated Metasurface for Satellite Applications


V Gnanalakshmi, S Asha, G Sowmiyadevi

Received Revised Accepted Published
22 Apr 2026 17 Aug 2026 26 Aug 2026 30 Sep 2026

Citation :

V Gnanalakshmi, S Asha, G Sowmiyadevi, "Design and Analysis of a Hexagonal Patch Antenna with Integrated Metasurface for Satellite Applications," International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT), vol. 74, no. 9, pp. 501-508, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V74I9P135

Abstract

In this paper, the design, simulation, and analysis of a novel hexagonal patch antenna operating at a frequency of 10.5 GHz are proposed. The hexagonal shape of the patch is chosen for its unique geometric properties, providing improved radiation characteristics and enhanced bandwidth. The proposed antenna leverages slot characteristics to improve performance and is implemented on a cost-effective FR4 substrate. Integrating slots in the hexagonal patch structure is explored to achieve enhanced impedance matching, gain, and radiation efficiency. A unit cell metasurface is introduced on the substrate, enhancing the antenna's capabilities. The proposed antenna is analyzed using HFSS 2020 R2 software. The antenna is operational with a return loss of -31dB at 10.5 GHz, and it offers a gain of 5.3 dB with an ECC of 0.03 and a diversity gain of 9.99. The size of the proposed antenna is 26 x 19 mm, which was fabricated and tested successfully. The distinctive combination of hexagonal geometry, slot characteristics, and the FR4 substrate presents a versatile and adaptable solution, making it suitable for satellite applications.

Keywords

FR4 Substrate, Hexagonal Slot Antenna, Metasurface, Satellite Communication Systems.

References

[1] Jung Hoon Lee et al., “Random Beam-based Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access for Massive MIMO Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 75725-75735, 2023.
[
CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[2] M.S H. Salah El-Din et al., “SIGW based MIMO Antenna for Satellite Down-Link Applications,” IEEE Access, vol. 10, pp. 35965-35976, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[3] Wenfei Yin et al., “CPW Fed Compact UWB 4-Element MIMO Antenna with High Isolation,” Sensors, vol. 21, no. 8, pp. 1-12, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[4] Pantelis-Daniel Arapoglou et al., “MIMO Over Satellite: A Review,” IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 27-51, 2011.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[5] V. Prakasam, and NavaBharat Reddy, “Hexagonal Shaped Microstrip Patch Antenna Design for 2.45 GHz WLAN System,” 2021 6th International Conference on Inventive Computation Technologies (ICICT), Coimbatore, India, pp. 13-18, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[6] Hanguang Liao, and Atif Shamim, “A Low-Profile and High-Aperture-Efficiency Hexagonal Circularly Polarized Microstrip Antenna Array,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 615-619, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[7] Orcun Kiris, Kagan Topalli, and Mehmet Unlu, “A Reflectarray Antenna using Hexagonal Lattice with Enhanced Beam Steering Capability,” IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 45526-45532, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[8] Ji-Haeng Cho et al., “Design and Implementation of an X-Band Horn Antenna with a Metamaterial Lens using 3D Printing Technology,” IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 17773-17781, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[9] Shraman Gupta et al., “Mutual Coupling Reduction using Metasurface Corrugations for 28 GHz MIMO Applications,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 16, pp. 2763-2766, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[10] Oludayo Sokunbi et al., “New Self-Isolated Wideband MIMO Antenna System for 5G mm-Wave Applications using Slot Characteristics,” IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation, vol. 4, pp. 81-90, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[11] Daasari Surender, Taimoor Khan, and Fazal Ahmed Talukdar, “A Hexagonal-Shaped Microstrip Patch Antenna with Notch Included Partial Ground Plane for 2.45 GHz Wi-Fi Band RF Energy Harvesting Applications,” 2020 7th International Conference on Signal Processing and Integrated Networks (SPIN), Noida, India, pp. 966-969, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[12] Hamid M.Q. Rasheda et al., “An Optimization of Fractal Microstrip Patch Antenna with Partial Ground using Genetic Algorithm Method,” 2021 International Congress of Advanced Technology and Engineering (ICOTEN), Taiz, Yemen, pp. 1-6, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[13] Chandan Kumar Ghosh et al., “Slotted Microstrip Antenna for Miniaturization,” 2020 National Conference on Emerging Trends on Sustainable Technology and Engineering Applications (NCETSTEA, Durgapur, India, pp. 1-4, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[14] Yixin Li et al., “High-Isolation 3.5 GHz Eight-Antenna MIMO Array using Balanced Open-Slot Antenna Element for 5G Smartphones,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 67, no. 6, pp. 3820-3830, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[15] Zhouyou Ren, Anping Zhao, and Shengjie Wu, “MIMO Antenna with Compact Decoupled Antenna Pairs for 5G Mobile Terminals,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 18, no. 7, pp. 1367-1371, 2019. 
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[16] Jung Hoon Lee et al., “Random Beam-based Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access for Massive MIMO Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 75725-75735, 2023.
[
CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[2]     M.S H. Salah El-Din et al., “SIGW based MIMO Antenna for Satellite Down-Link Applications,” IEEE Access, vol. 10, pp. 35965-35976, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[3]     Wenfei Yin et al., “CPW Fed Compact UWB 4-Element MIMO Antenna with High Isolation,” Sensors, vol. 21, no. 8, pp. 1-12, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[4]     Pantelis-Daniel Arapoglou et al., “MIMO Over Satellite: A Review,” IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 27-51, 2011.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[5]     V. Prakasam, and NavaBharat Reddy, “Hexagonal Shaped Microstrip Patch Antenna Design for 2.45 GHz WLAN System,” 2021 6th International Conference on Inventive Computation Technologies (ICICT), Coimbatore, India, pp. 13-18, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[6]     Hanguang Liao, and Atif Shamim, “A Low-Profile and High-Aperture-Efficiency Hexagonal Circularly Polarized Microstrip Antenna Array,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 615-619, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[7]     Orcun Kiris, Kagan Topalli, and Mehmet Unlu, “A Reflectarray Antenna using Hexagonal Lattice with Enhanced Beam Steering Capability,” IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 45526-45532, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[8]     Ji-Haeng Cho et al., “Design and Implementation of an X-Band Horn Antenna with a Metamaterial Lens using 3D Printing Technology,” IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 17773-17781, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[9]     Shraman Gupta et al., “Mutual Coupling Reduction using Metasurface Corrugations for 28 GHz MIMO Applications,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 16, pp. 2763-2766, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[10]  Oludayo Sokunbi et al., “New Self-Isolated Wideband MIMO Antenna System for 5G mm-Wave Applications using Slot Characteristics,” IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation, vol. 4, pp. 81-90, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[11]  Daasari Surender, Taimoor Khan, and Fazal Ahmed Talukdar, “A Hexagonal-Shaped Microstrip Patch Antenna with Notch Included Partial Ground Plane for 2.45 GHz Wi-Fi Band RF Energy Harvesting Applications,” 2020 7th International Conference on Signal Processing and Integrated Networks (SPIN), Noida, India, pp. 966-969, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[12]  Hamid M.Q. Rasheda et al., “An Optimization of Fractal Microstrip Patch Antenna with Partial Ground using Genetic Algorithm Method,” 2021 International Congress of Advanced Technology and Engineering (ICOTEN), Taiz, Yemen, pp. 1-6, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[13]  Chandan Kumar Ghosh et al., “Slotted Microstrip Antenna for Miniaturization,” 2020 National Conference on Emerging Trends on Sustainable Technology and Engineering Applications (NCETSTEA, Durgapur, India, pp. 1-4, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[14]  Yixin Li et al., “High-Isolation 3.5 GHz Eight-Antenna MIMO Array using Balanced Open-Slot Antenna Element for 5G Smartphones,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 67, no. 6, pp. 3820-3830, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[15]  Zhouyou Ren, Anping Zhao, and Shengjie Wu, “MIMO Antenna with Compact Decoupled Antenna Pairs for 5G Mobile Terminals,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 18, no. 7, pp. 1367-1371, 2019. 
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[16]  Bala Ankaiah Nunna, and Venkata Kishore Kothapudi, “A Novel C/X-Band Linear Polarized Conformal Shared Aperture Antenna Array for Spaceborne SAR Applications,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 101045-101054, 2023.
       [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]