An optically transparent and flexible microwave absorber for X and Ku bands application

Abstract

Abstract In this article, an optically transparent and flexible microwave absorber for X and Ku bands application has been presented. The proposed absorber uses optically transparent ITO coated PET sheet for creating ohmic loss and polydimethylsiloxane has been used as a dielectric substrate for optical transparency and flexibility. The novelty of the structure lies in its optical transparency and flexible with increased absorption bandwidth and minimum thickness in comparison to previously reported state of the art absorbers. The proposed absorber exhibits absorptivity (above 90%) in the frequency range from 8.00 to 20.70 GHz under normal incidence. The thickness of the absorber is 0.196 λ g (where λ g correspond to guided wavelength with respect to dielectric constant ε r ). An equivalent circuit model has been proposed which shows good match with the full wave model.