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Preliminary Design and Characterisation of a Novel T-Shaped Nano-Antenna On Diamond Like Carbon Material

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2016-01-31
JournalInternational Journal of Antennas
AuthorsAhmad Bahar, Mohamed Ismaeel Maricar, Richard Richard
InstitutionsDe Montfort University
Citations1
AnalysisFull AI Review Included

Technical Documentation and Material Sourcing Analysis: T-Shaped Nano-Antennas on Diamond Substrates

Section titled “Technical Documentation and Material Sourcing Analysis: T-Shaped Nano-Antennas on Diamond Substrates”

This document analyzes the technical requirements set forth in the research paper, “Preliminary Design and Characterisation of a Novel T-Shaped Nano-Antenna on Diamond Like Carbon Material,” and maps those requirements directly to 6CCVD’s capabilities in high-purity MPCVD Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) and Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) substrates.


The analyzed research validates the potential for ultra-compact, high-performance T-shaped nano-antennas utilizing diamond-based dielectric substrates for Terahertz (THz) applications.

  • THz Frequency Operation: The device is designed for operation in the critical 1 THz to 5 THz range, targeting applications in high-speed communications, sensing, and imaging.
  • Ultra-Wideband Performance: The T-shaped design achieved a simulated operational bandwidth exceeding 100%, offering superior performance compared to traditional nano-antennas.
  • Nanoscale Dimensions: The structure is fabricated on an ultra-thin dielectric layer with a thickness of just 100 nm (0.1 ”m), requiring high-precision thin-film material deposition.
  • Material Validation: The study confirms that low-permittivity carbon materials (specifically DLC, a surrogate for high-quality MPCVD diamond) are effective substrates for high-Q nano-antenna performance.
  • High Gain and Compactness: The design achieved notable gains (1.8 dBi at 1.3 THz) while maintaining a significantly reduced geometrical size.
  • 6CCVD Advantage: 6CCVD provides the foundational high-purity SCD substrates (available down to 0.1 ”m thickness) and custom metalization services necessary to transition this simulation into robust, low-loss Terahertz hardware.

The following hard data was extracted from the simulation and design parameters described in Section 3 of the research paper.

ParameterValueUnitContext
Operating Frequency Range1 - 5THzTarget range for compact nano-antenna design
Primary Resonant Frequencies1.3 and 3.3THzSimulated peaks demonstrating wideband nature
Operational Bandwidth> 100%Achieved bandwidth relative to other designs
Substrate Material AnalyzedDLCN/ADiamond Like Carbon (High-frequency dielectric)
Substrate Thickness (H)100nm (0.1 ”m)Ultra-thin dielectric film requirement
Substrate Relative Permittivity (Δr)2.615N/ADielectric constant used in ADS simulation
Maximum Simulated Gain (Low Res.)1.8dBiAchieved at 1.3 THz
Maximum Simulated Gain (High Res.)1.1dBiAchieved at 3.3 THz
T-shape Inner Length (L)400nmKey geometry dimension for resonance control
Microstrip Line Width (W)60nmCalculated width for 50 Ω feed line
Feed Line Impedance50ΩStandard micro-strip line impedance

The design and analysis focused on electromagnetic simulation techniques suitable for Terahertz nanoscale device architecture.

  1. Simulation Environment: Advanced Design System (ADS) software was used for structure analysis and optimization.
  2. Simulation Model: The momentum model within ADS was utilized to analyze the T-shaped nano-antenna geometry, critical for high-frequency electromagnetic accuracy.
  3. Substrate Definition: The dielectric layer was specified as Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) with an ultra-thin height (H = 100 nm) and a relative permittivity (Δr) of 2.615.
  4. Geometry Optimization: Parametric investigation was performed, specifically varying the inner length (L) of the T-shaped antenna, demonstrating that reducing L increased the resonant frequency.
  5. Feedline Design: The ADS line calculator was used to derive the physical dimensions (W = 60 nm) required for the 50 Ω micro-strip feed line.
  6. Performance Metrics: Results were analyzed for resonant frequency, bandwidth, gain, directivity, and return loss (S11), validating performance against traditional bowtie nano-antennas.

This research paper directly validates the use of thin-film diamond materials for next-generation Terahertz devices. 6CCVD provides the superior MPCVD diamond substrates and fabrication services necessary to manufacture and advance this technology beyond theoretical simulation.

Applicable Materials: The High-Purity Diamond Advantage

Section titled “Applicable Materials: The High-Purity Diamond Advantage”

While the paper utilized Diamond Like Carbon (DLC), high-purity Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) offers significantly lower loss tangents and superior thermal properties, making it the ideal choice for high-power, high-frequency (THz) components.

Component Requirement6CCVD Material SolutionEngineering Rationale
Dielectric SubstrateOptical Grade Single Crystal Diamond (SCD)Provides the lowest possible dielectric loss tangent (tan Ύ), crucial for maximizing Q-factor and bandwidth uniformity in the THz regime. SCD maintains stable Δr across wide frequency and temperature ranges.
Active/Conductive LayersPolycrystalline Diamond (PCD) or Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD)BDD offers tunable conductivity for high-conductivity ground planes or integrated conductive elements, depending on the required stack design.
Ultra-Thin DimensionsSCD & PCD Thin Films6CCVD specializes in thicknesses starting at 0.1 ”m (100 nm), precisely matching the requirement (H) specified in the research paper.

Replicating and scaling this T-shaped nano-antenna design requires nanoscale precision on high-quality substrates. 6CCVD offers end-to-end customization to transition these simulated designs into functional prototypes.

  • Substrate Scaling: Although the antenna elements are nanoscale, the overall wafer size can be customized up to 125 mm (Inch-size PCD), supporting large-area array fabrication for phased-array radar or imaging systems.
  • Precision Thinning & Polishing: To achieve the 100 nm (0.1 ”m) thickness, 6CCVD utilizes proprietary thinning processes. We guarantee ultra-low surface roughness (Ra < 1 nm for SCD), critical for high-fidelity lithography and minimizing surface scattering loss at THz frequencies.
  • Custom Metalization Stacks: The fabrication of the T-shaped antenna and ground plate requires high-adhesion, low-resistivity metal layers. 6CCVD offers in-house deposition of:
    • Adhesion Layers: Titanium (Ti) or Tungsten (W).
    • Conductive Layers: Gold (Au), Platinum (Pt), or Copper (Cu), tailored for optimal conductivity at THz speeds.
  • Dimensional Accuracy: We provide high-precision laser cutting and mechanical processing to deliver custom plate shapes and sizes needed for integrating diamond substrates into system packaging.

6CCVD’s in-house PhD materials science team is equipped to assist customers extending this research into working prototypes. We offer technical consulting for:

  • Loss Analysis: Calculating expected THz insertion loss based on specific SCD material grade and doping levels.
  • Thermal Management: Leveraging diamond’s unrivaled thermal conductivity for high-power THz source integration (e.g., coupling with Gunn diodes or high-frequency amplifiers).
  • Dielectric Stacks: Optimizing the ground/dielectric/metallization stack parameters (H, Δr, surface morphology) for high-performance Broadband Communications and Terahertz Sensing projects.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly. We offer Global Shipping (DDU default, DDP available) to facilitate your international research needs.

View Original Abstract

The rapid growth of nanotechnology has led to the development of many devices with advanced characteristics such as high frequencies Gunn diodes, transistors, nano-antennas etc. Nano-antenna applications are numerous and encompass a variety of fields such as broadband communications, imaging, sensing, energy harvesting, and disease diagnosis. In this research paper, A novel T-shaped nano-antenna was designed and its resonant frequency was analysed. Moreover, parametric investigation had been performed to figure out the effects of T-shaped nano-antenna on Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) material. The momentum model in Advanced Design System (ADS) software was used to simulate the novel T-shaped nano-antenna and the results were directly compared to other nano-antennas. Initial results suggests that the T-shaped nano-antenna had a higher bandwidth and smaller geometrical size when compared to the other nano-antenna at Terahertz frequency.