2017 11th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP)

Design, Fabrication and Characterization of a New

Wideband Antenna Based on a Polyaniline/Carbon
Coated Cobalt Composite
Z. Hamouda1,4,5, J-L.Wojkiewicz2, A.A. Pud3, L. Kone4,S. Bergheul1, T. Lasri4
1
Institut d’Aéronautique et des Etudes Spatiales, Université Saad Dahlab, Blida 1, Algérie,
zahir.hamouda@gmail.com
2
Mines Douai, SAGE, F-59508 Douai, France.
3
Institut of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of NASU, 02160, Kyiv, Ukraine.
4
Institut d’Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie, Université Lille 1, France,
tuami.lasri@iemn.univ-lille1.fr
5
Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Aéronautiques (ESTA), Alger, Algérie.

Abstract—The new generation of polymer materials has the
facility to conduct electricity, radiate and concurrently be
flexible. Accordingly, the possibility of implementation of a
flexible antenna opens the door to many interesting applications
including body-worn ones. This paper presents the design of a
CPW-fed monopole antenna, based on a Carbon coated Cobalt
(CCo) charged Polyaniline (PANI). A wideband antenna design
approach is proposed to develop a single antenna that can be
employed by diverse wireless technologies. In particular, in this
paper the frequency bands of interest are [2.4 – 2.48] GHz (WiFi)
and [5.15-5.825] GHz (wireless networks). Conception,
realization and characterization steps of the composite based
wideband antenna are presented. The composite (PANI/CCo)
fabricated, whose morphology was studied via scanning electron
microscopy, has a conductivity of 7500 S/m. The antenna is
printed on a 130μm thick Kapton® substrate. A good agreement
between measurements and simulation data is observed.
Index Terms— Wideband antenna, flexible antenna, polymer
materials, Carbon coated Cobalt, Polyaniline.
I. INTRODUCTION
The efforts towards miniaturization, weight reduction and
integration of wireless communication devices together with
new applications make that flexible antennas have an
important role to play [1-4]. Different types of antennas are
used in a wide range of applications, each of them has
particular characteristics and is the result of extensive
consideration in its design.
Indeed, the design of an antenna for a use in a given
frequency range, requires the knowledge of the intrinsic
material properties (complex permittivity, complex
permeability, conductivity ...) and extrinsic properties
(thickness, ...) to anticipate the measured performance of the
antenna-dependent gain, bandwidth, radiation pattern, etc.
Composite materials based on conducting polymers and
nanocomposites, are becoming increasingly used in the
manufacture of antennas because they participate to the efforts
mentioned above (miniaturization, low cost, light weight) and
also because they allow a relatively fine control of the intrinsic
parameters of these latter [5-8].
The Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology and its
applications have been experiencing tremendous interests in
both industrial and scientific research [9-12]. However, there
are still some hindrances which restrict its full potential
deployment. One of the important challenges in antenna design
is to occupy the entire UWB frequency spectrum (from 2 GHz
to 8 GHz) with the better radiation efficiency.
The classical UWB antenna system such as the dipole
antenna which exhibits a low complexity but also a low
flexibility restricts its use towards applications where high
flexibility is not of prime necessity. Recent technological
achievements in the communications industry have led to
increase the demand for UWB monopole antennas including
composite materials, and offering features like light weight,
low cost and ease of fabrication.
Conventional metal are not well suited for the applications
mentioned above. Metals such as copper, silver and gold tend
to crack and peel from substrates during bending and/or
stretching. Many researchers reported that there are many
obstacles to unite electronics systems and conventional
antennas with strong integration while maintaining good radio
frequency characteristics. So, alternative materials such as
conductive polymers and composite materials are widely
studied to ease the development of integrated systems. Thus,
one can find, in the literature, that conducting polymers such as
Polyaniline (PANI) [7, 13-16], Polypyrrole (PPY) [17]
Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) [18-19] and
Polypyrrole (PPY) [19] or magnetic-electric films [20] have
been utilized in order to tune the operating frequency, to
increase the bandwidth and to control the gain of an antenna by
a good mastery of the thickness and the conductivity values of
the conductive polymers films. In our investigation the
polymer selected is Polyaniline. Nevertheless, a drawback of
PANI is its relatively low conductivity. So, a solution proposed
to overcome this limitation is the addition of Carbon coated
Cobalt nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. This doping
method has been chosen because of the good flexibility and
antenna performance enhancement possibilities offered by this

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 2017 11th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP)
kind of composites. In addition, Polyaniline/Carbon coated
Cobalt nanoparticles present very stable properties (electrical,
mechanical and thermal) [21].
The proposed work emphasizes, at first, the development
of nanocomposite materials made of nanoparticles (CCo) and a
conductive polymer matrix. The nanoparticles of Carbon
coated Cobalt (CCo) are used to improve the conductivity of
our polymer. At second, the focus is put on the improvement
of the antenna performance for a given frequency range. In the
end, a simulation study made to accompany the experimental
investigation on the performance of the (CPW)-fed line
antenna (return losses, bandwidth radiation patterns and gain)
is presented.
II. MATERIAL AND FABRICATION
A. Material Development
The aim of this study was to develop a flexible
nanocomposite (PANI/CCo) that ensures both high
conductivity and good adhesion with substrate. In addition to
these properties, the nanocomposite should be compatible with
common substrates used for printed antenna which are cost-
effective materials usable in microwaves, as for example
Kapton®. The nanocomposite material is based on Carbon
coated Cobalt (CCo) charged Polyaniline Emeraldine Base
(PANI-EB), a stable form of the non conducting form of
Polyaniline (PANI). To obtain the conductive polymer (PANI),
PANI-EB was fully protonated with Camphor Sulfonic Acid
(CSA). When using Dichloroacetic Acid (DCAA) as solvent
and secondary dopant, the obtained conductivity was not
sufficiently high for antenna application. So, to enhance the
conductivity, a solution including nanoparticles of CCo was
investigated. More comprehensive information of the
nanocomposite (PANI/CCo) can be found in [22].
Fig. 1 shows a scanning electron microscope (SEM)
photograph of a PANI/CCo composite. Homogeneous
distribution of CCo reinforcements can be seen and a quite
uniform coating of CCo with PANI is observed. The
nanocomposite showed well-dispersed particles, while
indicating some particles aggregations. The size of the CCo
nanoparticle varies from about 30 to 55 nm. Finally, it appears
that the dark and light regions are PANI and CCo particles,
respectively.
Fig. 1. SEM image of PANI/ CCo nanocomposite.
In accordance to our studies, after a secondary doping
process of Polyaniline in the presence of CCo, the SEM
analysis demonstrated the particles tendency to form uniform
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dispersion of CCo in the PANI mixture. Hence, the composite
made from PANI/CCo exhibits essential stability and the
polymer film growth is quite well controlled. Thus the
proposed material can be successfully employed for the
realization of antennas.
B. Conductivity measurement
In the study proposed the composite polymer has been
modeled as a thin layer of finite impedance with a sheet
resistance Rs estimated through the DC-conductivity  by the
following equation:
Rs = 1/ (  h)
Where h is the thickness of the film.
The thickness of PANI/CCo film was measured using a
profilometer (Micromeasure 2 system, equipped with STIL-
DUO). In fact the thickness of the ink layer was measured at
different places to take into account the thickness homogeneity
of the film. Hence, the mean thickness of PANI/CCo film used
as radiating element is 65 µm.
The DC conductivity is measured by using Van Der Pauw
method. Following the requirements of this method, four
probes were placed at the corners of a square-shaped film
(1313 mm2). The DC conductivity measurement has
concluded to a value around 7500 S/m. To the best of our
knowledge, this is the highest value reported to date for this
type of wideband organic antenna
C. Antenna Design and fabrication
The selection of PANI/CCo as a patch for this kind of
antenna was done on the promise that a successful antenna
design based on this type of conductive polymers could lead to
the development of some interesting flexible antennas. The
geometry of the proposed antenna structure is depicted in Fig.
2. It consists of a circular- triangular monopole, CPW ground
plane and a modified feed line. The dielectric constant and loss
tangent of the 0.13-mm-thick Kapton substrate are respectively
3.5 and 0.002. A probe feed was implemented by using a
coaxial cable. The feeding location of the PANI/CCo-patch
antenna has been optimized to insure a good matching with a
standard 50 ohms (CPW)-fed line also made by using a
PANI/CCo film. The dimensions of the proposed antenna have
been optimized for a good matching on the frequency range
spreading from 1.8 to 8 GHz. The proposed antenna has been
realized. The photograph of the handmade prototype is given
in Fig. 2(b).
Kapton
PANI/CCo
(a) (b)
®
Fig. 2. Design of the presented antenna (a) HFSS view. (b) Photograph of
the realized PANI/CCo-antenna.
 2017 11th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP)

III. SIMULATION AND MEASUREMENT RESULTS The simulated and measured radiation patterns in E-plane
Before the realization step (Fig. 2(b)), the proposed UWB and H-plane of the designed antenna structure at its two
antenna based on a PANI/CCo nanocomposite is simulated resonance frequencies are demonstrated in Fig. 4 (a)-(b).
0o
using Ansoft’s High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS®) -30o
5 dB
0 30o
(Fig. 2(a)). In order to check the validity of the design, the -5

return loss, the radiation patterns and the gain of the antenna -10
-15
were measured. The measurements results were then compared -60o -20 60o
-25
to the simulation data. -30
-35

The return loss of the proposed antenna is shown in Fig. 3. -40

-90o 90o
The designed antenna is tested using an Agilent PNA–X series -40

N5242A network analyzer (10MHz–26.5GHz). The results -35

-30
obtained are discussed in the following paragraph. -25
-20
o
0 -120 -15 120o
-10
-5
0
-5
-150o 5 dB 150o
180o
-10
E-Plane Measurement co-pol (a)
Return loss (dB)

H-Plane Measurement co-pol

-15 E-Plane Measurement cross-pol 0o
5 dB
H-Plane Measurement cross-pol -30o 0 30o
-5
-20 -10
-15
-60o -20 60o
-25 -25
-30
Simulation -35
Measurement
-40
-30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-90o 90o
Frequency (GHz) -40
-35
Fig. 3. Comparison of return loss of the simulated and measured PANI/CCo -30
-25
antenna. -20
o
-120 -15 120o
First of all, it can be observed that the agreement between -10
-5
the simulation and measurement data is quite good. These o
0
-150 5 dB 150o
results confirm that the monopole antenna E-Plane presents an co-pol
Measurement o
180
operating frequency range capable of completelyH-Plane
covering the
Measurement co-pol
E-Plane Measurement cross-pol
PCS (1.8-1.9 GHz) and 2.4/5.2 GHz WLAN bands.
H-Plane In cross-pol
Measurement (b)
particular, in the experimental tests the bandwidths at -10 dB Fig. 4. Simulated and measured E-plane and H-plane co-polarization
reported are [1.6-2.7GHz] and [4.3-5.90GHz]. This new radiation patterns of the antenna at 2.4 and 5.2 GHz. Green: E-Plane
antenna has a good return loss value and can operate in dual- simulation, Blak: H-Plane simulation,Blue: E-Plane measurement, Red: H-
band. The deviation of measured resonant frequency for the Plane measurement.
first frequency peak was 9.6 % (at 2.1 GHz) and 5.8 % (at 5.1
For the radiation patterns at 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz, it is
GHz) for the second frequency peak. The performances of the
observed that the E-plane patterns are omnidirectional while
realized antenna are close to simulation results which is a
the H-plane patterns are bidirectional. It is also noticed that the
crucial aspect to enable the emergence of this kind of
nanocomposite antenna offers a stable radiation performance
technologies.
over the frequency range of interest. Lastly, the nanocomposite
As the new generations of printed organic antenna are based antenna gain shows an almost linearly increase with the
expected to play an important role in wireless communication frequency from 0.5 dBi at 2.4 GHz to around 2.68 dBi at 5.2
systems, it is interesting to measure the radiation patterns of GHz.
the antenna proposed.
IV. CONCLUSION
The radiation patterns of the principal planes (E and H) A nanocomposite material was synthesized by mixing
were measured in the IEMN anechoic chamber using a Carbon coated Cobalt (CCo) metal particles and a conductive
standard horn antenna (SAS–200/571) and a vector network polymer (PANI) material. This PANI/CCo nanocomposite was
analyzer (Agilent 8735ES, 30 KHz – 6 GHz). The proposed exploited to realize a monopole antenna. Based on this
antenna acted as a receiver and the horn antenna acted as the composite a UWB antenna for WiFi frequencies and various
transmitter. wireless networks applications is designed and fabricated. The
proposed antenna properties, return loss, radiation patterns and
gain, have been simulated and measured. Measured data show

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 2017 11th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP)

a good agreement with simulation results. In addition to low on Conductive polymers,” in Proc. IEEE. 9th EuCAP, Lisbon, Portugal,
2015, pp. 1-4.
cost, low weight, ease of fabrication and good corrosion
[15] Z. Hamouda, J-L. Wojkiewicz, A.A. Pud, L. Kone, B. Belaabed, S.
resistance, the composite antenna proposed demonstrates good Bergheul and T. Lasri, “Design Fabrication and Characterization of
electrical characteristics. Actually, the antenna provides Polyaniline and Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Composites based Patch
acceptable performance for practical applications, making the Antenna,” IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, vol. 10, Issue 1,
proposed nanocomposite (PANI/CCo) suitable for flexible pp. 88-93, 2016.
antennas applications. The ongoing research work is mainly [16] Z. Hamouda, J-L. Wojkiewicz, A.A. Pud, L. Kone, B. Belaabed, S.
Bergheul and T. Lasri, “Dual Band Elliptical Planar Conductive
focused on the improvement of the nanocomposite Polymer Antenna Printed on a flexible Substrate,” IEEE Transactions
conductivity which is equal at that time to 7500 S/m. on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 63, no. 12, pp. 5864-5867, 2015.
[17] A. Verma, C. Fumeaux,Van-Tan Truong, and B. D. Bates, “Effect of
ACKNOWLEDGMENT film thickness on the radiation efficiency of a 4.5 GHz polypyrrole
conducting polymer patch antenna,” Proceedings of Asia-Pacific
The authors wish to thank Dr. N. Redon (Mines Douai, Microwave Conference 2010.
SAGE, Douai, France) for assistance with the conductivity [18] T. Kaufmann, A. Verma, V-T. Truong, B. Weng, R. Shepherd and C.
measurements, Dr. S. Nadar (IEMN, France) for discussion Fumeaux , “Efficiency of a Compact Elliptical Planar Ultra-Wideband
and assistance with SEM characterizations. The support of the Antenna Based on Conductive Polymers,” Inter. J. Antennas and
Algerian National State is gratefully acknowledged. Propagation, vol. 2012, pp.1-11, 2012.
[19] S. J. Chen, T. Kaufmann, R. Shepherd, B. Chivers, B. Weng, A.
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