Liquid-metal frequency-reconfigurable slot antenna using air-bubble actuation

Liquid metal actuated by pressure-driven air bubbles is guided within channels to dynamically reconfigure the length of the radiating aperture and feed line of a slot antenna. The gallium-based liquid metal is held in position by air bubbles, and liquid-metal motion is induced when a pressure differential is created. In contrast to conventional hydraulic or pneumatic actuation of gallium-based liquid metal, the pressure actuation described here is reversible and repeatable, as the liquid metal is enveloped by a thin layer of NaOH solution, which acts as a slip layer and reduces any metal oxidation. The slot antenna achieves a 26% tunable bandwidth with a contiguous range from 1.42 to 1.84 GHz for which the S11 is < -10 dB. The peak gain ranges from 4.8 dBi in its lowest-frequency state to 4.1 dBi in its highest-frequency state.