| Engineering ZnAl2O4
Nanoparticles for Enhanced Wireless
Performance: Insights from Sol-Gel Synthesis |
Lakku Venkata Satyanarayana,a
Ribhu Abhusan Pandaa
and Srilali Siragamb,*
Pages : 225-234
DOI: 10.1080/0371750X.2025.2541121 |
| Abstract |
| The demand for compact and high-performance microstrip patch antennas has driven
research into advanced dielectric materials. Zinc aluminate (ZnAl2O4
) nanoparticles,
synthesized via the sol-gel method, exhibit excellent dielectric properties for
microwave applications. X-ray diffraction confirmed a spinel structure with a crystallite
size of 16.72 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy identified absorption bands
at 455-670 cm–1, characteristic of Al–O vibrations. Field emission scanning electron
microscopy revealed spherical nanoparticles (~70.06 nm), while energy-dispersive
spectroscopy confirmed Zn, Al and O composition. Dielectric measurements showed
permittivity values of 8.82, 8.80 and 8.78 at 30o
, 40o
and 50oC, respectively, with
corresponding dielectric loss values of 0.06, 0.04 and 0.05 at 100 kHz. A prototype
microstrip patch antenna fabricated using ZnAl2O4 exhibited a measured return loss
of –15.6 dB, a simulated return loss of –16.6 dB, and a bandwidth of 1.52 GHz
(measured) and 1.56 GHz (simulated), making it a strong candidate for S-band satellite
communication applications.
[Keywords: Gahnite, Sol-gel process, Dielectric permittivity, Dielectric loss] |
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