A Novel Frequency Selective Surface Loaded MIMO Antenna with Low Mutual Coupling and Enhanced Gain

study focuses on the utilization of a slotted patch MIMO antenna to enhance isolation and gain. The MIMO antenna configuration includes two radiators integrated with an array of Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSSs). These antenna components are implemented on an FR-4 substrate and encompassed by FSS units that are optimized for X-band frequencies. The proposed MIMO antenna possesses dimensions of 65 mm (width) x 45 mm (length) x 1.6 mm (height). The primary objective of incorporating FSSs is to not only enhance isolation but also achieve high gain. The proposed FSS design features a circular ring structure with a rectangular loop at its center. The FSS unit cells exhibit excellent stability across various polarization incidence angles and operate within the frequency range of 7 to 9 GHz. The FSS loaded antenna offers a bandwidth ranging from 8.0 to 8.55 GHz, with a peak gain of 6.5 dB and isolation exceeding -20 dB among the MIMO elements. Furthermore, the study explores the MIMO antenna's performance in terms of diversity gain (DG), efficiency, and Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC), demonstrating superior results compared to existing state-of-the-art approaches. The proposed findings are validated by fabricating a sample prototype and conducting a comprehensive comparison between simulated and measured results.