[Paper Review] Graphene-based Antennas for Terahertz Systems: A Review

D. Correas-Serrano, J. S. Gómez‐Díaz|arXiv (Cornell University)|Apr 2, 2017

Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications218 references70 citations

TL;DR

The paper surveys graphene-enabled terahertz antennas, analyzing resonant, leaky-wave, and reflectarray designs, feeding networks, and the impact of graphene dispersion, with prospects for real-time reconfiguration and non-reciprocity.

ABSTRACT

We review the use of graphene to develop reconfigurable, miniaturized, and efficient terahertz (THz) antennas and associated feeding networks, and attempt to identify current research trends and mid- and long-term challenges and prospects. We first discuss the state of the art in resonant, leaky-wave and reflectarray antennas, providing a critical assessment of their performance, limitations, and main challenges that remain to be addressed. Next, we examine different integrated feeding networks, including components such as switches, filters, and phase shifters, and we clarify the impact that graphene's intrinsic spatial dispersion may have in their performance. Our outlook clearly describes how graphene can bring exotic functionalities to all these devices, including quasi real-time reconfiguration capabilities and magnet-less non-reciprocal responses. Some exciting applications of THz antennas are then presented and discussed, including transceivers, biosensors, and first experimental realizations of detectors and modulators. We conclude by outlining our vision for the promising future of graphene-based THz antennas.

Motivation & Objective

• Identify current graphene-based THz antenna technologies (resonant, leaky-wave, reflectarray) and evaluate their performance and limitations.
• Examine integrated feeding networks (switches, filters, phase shifters) and how graphene dispersion affects them.
• Assess potential exotic functionalities (reconfigurability, magnet-less non-reciprocity) and practical applications.
• Highlight mid- and long-term challenges and research directions for graphene-based THz antennas.

Proposed method

• Review and critical assessment of state-of-the-art graphene-based THz antennas (resonant, leaky-wave, reflectarray).
• Evaluation of integrated feeding networks and components (switches, filters, phase shifters).
• Analysis of graphene’s intrinsic spatial dispersion on device performance.
• Discussion of potential functionalities enabled by graphene (quasi real-time reconfiguration, non-reciprocity).
• Discussion of applications and experimental realizations to date.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What are the current graphene-based THz antenna configurations and their performance limits (resonant, leaky-wave, reflectarray)?
• RQ2 How does graphene's spatial dispersion impact feeding networks and their components?
• RQ3 What exotic functionalities (reconfigurability, non-reciprocity) can graphene introduce to THz antennas?
• RQ4 What applications and experimental realizations exist, and what challenges remain for practical deployment?

Key findings

• Graphene enables reconfigurable, miniaturized, and potentially efficient THz antennas and feeding networks.
• Integrated components (switches, filters, phase shifters) are influenced by graphene’s spatial dispersion.
• Graphene can enable quasi real-time reconfiguration and magnet-less non-reciprocal responses in THz devices.
• There are emerging applications in transceivers, biosensors, detectors, and modulators, with ongoing experimental realizations.
• The paper identifies mid- and long-term challenges and prospects for graphene-based THz antennas.