A Novel Reconfigurable Liquid Metal Antenna Controlled by an Impressed Voltage

To realize frequency reconfigurable of antenna, a new design for continuously tuning frequency using liquid metal is proposed in this paper. The antenna consists of liquid eutectic gallium and indium (EGaIn)within the microfluidic channel, which is controlled by an impressed voltage. According to a new electrochemical method that Electrochemical deposition (or removal)of a surface oxide on the EGaIn significantly lowers (or increases)its interfacial tension, we can change the length of EGaIn in the channel without pump controlling. By the coaxial cable, the five EGaIn monopolar antennas are connected to form a bending structure array, which can not only change the size of the liquid antenna, but also increase the range of reconfigurable frequency. Simulation in HFSS shows that antenna provides a frequency tuning range from 1.3 GHz to 11.3 GHz, and the adjustable range ratio is approximately 8.7: 1. The maximum realized gain is 4.09 dBi and the maximum total efficiency is 82%.