Flexible polymer/fabric fractal monopole antenna for wideband applications

A novel flexible polymer/fabric fractal monopole antenna with a wideband performance is presented. A thin sheet of highly conductive fabric and a natural rubber‐based composite have been used for conductive and non‐conductive parts of the antenna, which allow keeping the antenna as flexible and thin as possible. The proposed antenna has been simulated, prototyped and tested. Results show that the antenna has a simulated impedance bandwidth of 3.8 GHz (2.2–6.0 GHz) and a measured impedance bandwidth of 3.7 GHz (2.3–6.0 GHz) to cover the most commonly used standards in wireless communication systems. The radiation efficiency of the antenna reaches over 93% throughout the operating frequency band with satisfactory radiation patterns and gain.