Gain enhancement through structural optimization of 100% textile-based microstrip patch antennas for wearable applications at 2.45 GHz

Abstract

This study enhances the gain of fabric-based wearable patch antennas at 2.45 GHz, crucial for improving wireless body area networks (WBANs) used in health monitoring and fitness tracking. Unlike conventional antennas, which rely on high-conductivity metals and rigid substrates such as flame retardant 4 (FR4) or printed circuit board (PCB), this study utilizes 100% textile materials, including denim as the substrate and diamond lattice conductive fabric (DLCF) as the radiating element, offering flexibility and low-cost manufacturing due to its commercially availability. Simulations demonstrated that increasing substrate thickness significantly improved gain, achieving up to 4.58 dB. Experimental validation with a 100% cotton-based substrate showed gains of 0.03, 2.18, and 3.82 dB for thickness increases of 1, 3, and 5 times, respectively. Despite the lower conductivity of textile materials, the optimized antenna structure exhibited performance comparable to conventional antennas. This work highlights the potential for fully textile-based, high-gain antennas that are both flexible and cost-effective, making them viable for scalable wearable applications.