A Comparative Study of a Reflectarray Antenna Based on Optical Transparent Materials

Reflectarray antennas and Intelligent Reflection Surfaces (IRSs) are key elements in 5G and beyond cellular networks. Optical transparency of the aforementioned structures can increase their potential applications. The transparency of the surface can be achieved by using materials such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and quartz. However, the use of very thin layers of low-conductivity materials can significantly increase the complexity of the electromagnetic simulations. A comparative study that includes simulations of a reflectarray antenna using CST microwave studio and QUPES has been conducted. Simulations suggest a reflectarray with directivity of 26.2 dBi at 60 GHz which is suitable for 5G and Beyond Wireless Networks or emerging Satellite Networks.