Multilayer flexible metamaterials based on circular shape with negative refractive index at microwave spectrum

Abstract This study aims to design and analyze multilayer flexible metamaterials based on circular shape with negative refractive index in the microwave spectrum. In this study, silver ink is applied as the periodic conductor and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) forms the substrates in metamaterials fabricated by painting silver ink on to PET. The samples vary in number of layers from single layer to four layer. The spectrum studied is 2 – 6 GHz. The simulation results obtained are validated by the experimental results obtained. There is a slight mismatch between simulation results and experiment results resulting from the limitations of the fabrication method used. Overall, the experimental results present good agreement with the simulation results. The spectrums of negative refractive index for single layer, two layers, three layers, and four layers are 2 – 3.55 GHz, 2 – 2.98 GHz, 2 – 2.62 GHz, and 2 – 2.12 GHz, respectively. The single layer flexible metamaterial based on circular shape yields the highest negative refractive index value. Increasing number of layers reduces the negative refractive index values of the metamaterial.