Terahertz Antenna Design for Wireless Communication

The terahertz (THz) band, broadly defined between 0.1 THz and 10 THz, promises unprecedented data‐rates for short‐range links, high‐resolution imaging and sensing, and secure indoor networks. Antenna design at these frequencies must reconcile opposing demands: extremely small physical dimensions, high radiation efficiency in the face of conductive and surface‐wave losses, and precise beam‐shaping to overcome molecular absorption. Common architectures include planar microstrip patches, dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs), plasmonic nanoantennas and multi‐element arrays for MIMO operation. Material innovations—such as graphene for plasmonic confinement, high-permittivity dielectrics for compact DRAs and photonic-crystal substrates for beam control—are key to performance gains. Design methods leverage electromagnetic simulation, statistical optimisation and, increasingly, characteristic-mode analysis and machine-learning tools to tune geometry, substrate properties and feed structures. Progress in micro- and nano-fabrication, including layer-by-layer metallisation and precision etching, has enabled low-profile arrays with stable frequency response and high gain. Such developments underpin future applications in 6G‐class wireless, secure data links, biomedical sensing and beyond, by delivering multi-GHz bandwidths, directive beams and robust MIMO diversity in the challenging THz regime.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent work has demonstrated a microfabricated 2×2 cavity-backed slot antenna array operating at 1 THz. By integrating complementary slot apertures with a corrugated surface, researchers achieved a unidirectional radiation pattern that combines series-resonant electric dipoles and parallel-resonant magnetic dipoles. Fabricated via stacking multiple metallised layers, the array realised a measured fractional bandwidth of 26 % and a peak gain of 14 dBi, in close agreement with simulation. The low-profile design exhibits stable frequency characteristics and high radiation efficiency, and serves as a modular building block for larger arrays with highly directive beams. This foundational demonstration paves the way for scalable THz front ends in future high-speed wireless systems.

Terahertz Antenna Design for Wireless Communication publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in terahertz antenna design for wireless communication across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

S-parameter: A complex parameter describing the reflection and transmission behaviour at antenna ports, used to quantify matching and bandwidth.

Fractional bandwidth: The ratio of an antenna’s operational bandwidth to its centre frequency, expressed as a percentage, indicating relative bandwidth.

Envelope correlation coefficient (ECC): A metric for MIMO systems that quantifies the degree of correlation between signals at different antenna ports; lower ECC indicates better diversity.

Dielectric resonator antenna (DRA): An antenna in which a high-permittivity dielectric element radiates electromagnetic waves, offering wide bandwidth and high efficiency at THz frequencies.

Plasmonics: The study and use of surface-bound electromagnetic waves, such as surface plasmon polaritons on graphene, to achieve deep sub-wavelength confinement and miniaturisation.

References

1. A microfabricated low-profile wideband antenna array for terahertz communications. Scientific Reports (2017).
2. High gain circularly polarized graphene inspired dielectric resonator antenna for 6G IOT THz optical communication and optical refractive index Biosensing applications. Engineering Science and Technology an International Journal (2024).
3. A Quad-Port Nature-Inspired Lotus-Shaped Wideband Terahertz Antenna for Wireless Applications. Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks (2023).
4. MTM-Inspired Graphene-Based THz MIMO Antenna Configurations Using Characteristic Mode Analysis for 6G/IoT Applications. Electronics (2022).