Design and diversity parameter analysis of metamaterial-inspired quad-port MIMO antenna structure for sub-6 GHz 5G wireless communication application

This paper presents a small quad-port, MIMO antenna based on a C-shaped metamaterial structure that is designed to enhance performance in modern wireless communication systems. The suggested antenna is implemented on a low-cost FR4 substrate and has a miniaturized dimension of 1.03λ×1.02λ×0.043λ, which makes it suitable for applications with limited space. Key antenna characteristics, including isolation, gain, and bandwidth, are greatly enhanced using metamaterial-based radiating elements. A parametric optimization was done in detail, including paramount design variables such as gap size, patch width, and ground plane, thickness of the patch to achieve the best performance. The corresponding design has a high degree of isolation and a maximum gain of 18.34 dBi. Additionally, it was demonstrated that excellent MIMO performance was achieved, as indicated by ECC < 0.005, DG > 9.99 dB, and CCL < 0.42 bps/Hz, which confirmed the suitability of the system for radar and sub-6 GHz 5G use.