Design and Fabrication of Terahertz (THz) Antenna Using Aerosol Jet Printing

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) technology has emerged as a promising field for various applications, including imaging, spectroscopy, and wireless communication. However, designing and fabricating terahertz antennas presents several challenges, such as material selection, fabrication precision, and integration with other components. This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a compact microstrip terahertz antenna with dimensions of 3mm x 2mm, leveraging Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) technology, which enables the direct printing of functional materials with high resolution and accuracy, for its fabrication. The proposed antenna was designed for operation in a specific terahertz frequency range, considering the dielectric properties of the substrate and conductive properties of the printed metallic layer. We performed simulations to optimize the antenna's performance, followed by the fabrication process using AJP. The fabricated antenna was characterized by measuring its radiation pattern, gain, and return loss, demonstrating satisfactory performance in the targeted frequency range. The results indicate that AJP technology is a viable and efficient approach for fabricating terahertz antennas with high precision and reduced complexity, potentially paving the way for further advancements in terahertz technology and its applications.