Showing papers on "Metamaterial published in 2022"

Thermal tuning of terahertz metamaterial properties based on phase change material vanadium dioxide

Abstract: We present a novel, structurally simple, multifunctional broadband absorber. It consists of a patterned vanadium dioxide film and a metal plate spaced by a dielectric layer. The temperature control allows...

Thermal tuning of terahertz metamaterial absorber properties based on VO2.

Abstract: We present a novel, structurally simple, multifunctional broadband absorber. It consists of a patterned vanadium dioxide film and a metal plate spaced by a dielectric layer. Temperature control allows flexible adjustment of the absorption intensity from 0 to 0.999. The modulation mechanism of the absorber stems from the thermogenic phase change properties of the vanadium dioxide material. The absorber achieves total reflection properties in the terahertz band when the vanadium dioxide is in the insulated state. When the vanadium dioxide is in its metallic state, the absorber achieves near-perfect absorption in the ultra-broadband range of 3.7 THz-9.7 THz. Impedance matching theory and the analysis of electric field are also used to illustrate the mechanism of operation. Compared to previous reports, our structure utilizes just a single cell structure (3 layers only), and it is easy to process and manufacture. The absorption rate and operating bandwidth of the absorber are also optimised. In addition, the absorber is not only insensitive to polarization, but also very tolerant to the angle of incidence. Such a design would have great potential in wide-ranging applications, including photochemical energy harvesting, stealth devices, thermal emitters, etc.

Hyperbolic metamaterials: fusing artificial structures to natural 2D materials

Abstract: Abstract Optical metamaterials have presented an innovative method of manipulating light. Hyperbolic metamaterials have an extremely high anisotropy with a hyperbolic dispersion relation. They are able to support high- k modes and exhibit a high density of states which produce distinctive properties that have been exploited in various applications, such as super-resolution imaging, negative refraction, and enhanced emission control. Here, state-of-the-art hyperbolic metamaterials are reviewed, starting from the fundamental principles to applications of artificially structured hyperbolic media to suggest ways to fuse natural two-dimensional hyperbolic materials. The review concludes by indicating the current challenges and our vision for future applications of hyperbolic metamaterials.

A switchable terahertz device combining ultra-wideband absorption and ultra-wideband complete reflection

Abstract: Terahertz functional devices have been instrumental in the development of terahertz technology. Moreover, the advent of metamaterials has greatly contributed to the advancement of terahertz devices. However, most of today's metamaterials in the terahertz band exhibit poor performance and are mono-functional. This greatly limits the scalability and application potential of the devices. To achieve diversification and tunability of device functionality, we propose a combination of metamaterial structures and vanadium dioxide film. A metamaterial absorber based on the thermotropic phase change material VO2 has been designed. Flexible switching of absorption performance (complete reflection and ultra-broadband perfect absorption) can be achieved through temperature adjustment. Moreover, the perfectly absorbed bandwidth is a staggering 3.3 THz. The thermal tuning of spectral absorbance has a maximal range of 0.01 to 0.999. The shift in absorption properties is explained by the phase change process of vanadium oxide (MIT). The electric field intensity on the absorber surface at different temperatures was monitored and analysed as a way to correlate the VO2 film phase transition process. The impedance matching theory is applied to explain the high level of absorption generated by the absorber. Finally, the effects of the structural parameters on the performance of the absorber are analysed. This work will have many applications in the terahertz field and offers a wide range of ideas for the design of terahertz-enabled devices.

Photonics of time-varying media

Abstract: Time-varying media have recently emerged as a new paradigm for wave manipulation, due to the synergy between the discovery of highly nonlinear materials, such as epsilon-near-zero materials, and the quest for wave applications, such as magnet-free nonreciprocity, multimode light shaping, and ultrafast switching. In this review, we provide a comprehensive discussion of the recent progress achieved with photonic metamaterials whose properties stem from their modulation in time. We review the basic concepts underpinning temporal switching and its relation with spatial scattering and deploy the resulting insight to review photonic time-crystals and their emergent research avenues, such as topological and non-Hermitian physics. We then extend our discussion to account for spatiotemporal modulation and its applications to nonreciprocity, synthetic motion, giant anisotropy, amplification, and many other effects. Finally, we conclude with a review of the most attractive experimental avenues recently demonstrated and provide a few perspectives on emerging trends for future implementations of time-modulation in photonics.

Acoustic Metamaterials for Noise Reduction: A Review

Abstract: Noise pollution has become a significant global problem in recent years. Unfortunately, conventional acoustic materials cannot offer substantial improvements in noise reduction. However, acoustic metamaterials are providing new solutions for controlling sound waves, and have huge potential for mitigating noise propagation in particular. Recently, owing to the rapid development of acoustic metamaterials, metamaterials for acoustic noise reduction have drawn the attention of researchers worldwide. These metamaterials are often both light and compact, and are excellent at reducing low‐frequency noise, which is difficult to control with conventional acoustic materials. Recent progress has illustrated that acoustic metamaterials effectively control sound waves, and optimizing their structure can enable functionality based on new physical phenomena. This review introduces the development of acoustic metamaterials, and summarizes the basic classification, underlying physical mechanism, application scenarios, and emerging research trends for both passive and active noise‐reduction metamaterials. Focusing on noise reduction, the shortcomings of current technologies are discussed, and future development trends are predicted. As our knowledge in this area continues to expand, it is expected that acoustic metamaterials will continue to improve and find more practical applications in emerging fields in the future.

A Comprehensive Survey on Antennas On-Chip Based on Metamaterial, Metasurface, and Substrate Integrated Waveguide Principles for Millimeter-Waves and Terahertz Integrated Circuits and Systems

Abstract: Antennas on-chip are a particular type of radiating elements valued for their small footprint. They are most commonly integrated in circuit boards to electromagnetically interface free space, which is necessary for wireless communications. Antennas on-chip radiate and receive electromagnetic (EM) energy as any conventional antennas, but what distinguishes them is their miniaturized size. This means they can be integrated inside electronic devices. Although on-chip antennas have a limited range, they are suitable for cell phones, tablet computers, headsets, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and WiFi and WLAN routers. Typically, on-chip antennas are handicapped by narrow bandwidth (less than 10%) and low radiation efficiency. This survey provides an overview of recent techniques and technologies investigated in the literature, to implement high performance on-chip antennas for millimeter-waves (mmWave) and terahertz (THz) integrated-circuit (IC) applications. The technologies discussed here include metamaterial (MTM), metasurface (MTS), and substrate integrated waveguides (SIW). The antenna designs described here are implemented on various substrate layers such as Silicon, Graphene, Polyimide, and GaAs to facilitate integration on ICs. Some of the antennas described here employ innovative excitation mechanisms, for example comprising open-circuited microstrip-line that is electromagnetically coupled to radiating elements through narrow dielectric slots. This excitation mechanism is shown to suppress surface wave propagation and reduce substrate loss. Other techniques described like SIW are shown to significantly attenuate surface waves and minimise loss. Radiation elements based on the MTM and MTS inspired technologies are shown to extend the effective aperture of the antenna without compromising the antenna’s form factor. Moreover, the on-chip antennas designed using the above technologies exhibit significantly improved impedance match, bandwidth, gain and radiation efficiency compared to previously used technologies. These features make such antennas a prime candidate for mmWave and THz on-chip integration. This review provides a thorough reference source for specialist antenna designers.

Investigation of terahertz high Q-factor of all-dielectric metamaterials

Abstract: We investigated the propagation properties of all-dielectric metamaterials (ADMs) based on a SiO2-Si asymmetric hybrid block, including the effects of structural parameters, asymmetrical degrees, carrier doping concentrations, and graphene Fermi levels. The Q-factor of Fano resonance reaches more than 270, and the amplitude modulation depth (MD) is about 75% if the asymmetric degree changes in the range of 2–10 μm. The carrier concentration of silicon significantly affects the intensity of excited Fano resonance. When the carrier concentration of Si is 1 × 1014 cm−3, the excited Fano resonance is the strongest, and the transmission peak is about 0.92. With the help of a uniform graphene layer, the Fano resonance can be effectively modulated, the frequency MD is about 20% if the Fermi level changes in the scope of 0.01–0.3 eV. These results can help us to design THz high Q-factor devices, such as sensors, filters, and modulators.

Investigation of terahertz high Q-factor of all-dielectric metamaterials

Abstract: We investigated the propagation properties of all-dielectric metamaterials (ADMs) based on a SiO2-Si asymmetric hybrid block, including the effects of structural parameters, asymmetrical degrees, carrier doping concentrations, and graphene Fermi levels. The Q-factor of Fano resonance reaches more than 270, and the amplitude modulation depth (MD) is about 75% if the asymmetric degree changes in the range of 2–10 μm. The carrier concentration of silicon significantly affects the intensity of excited Fano resonance. When the carrier concentration of Si is 1 × 1014 cm−3, the excited Fano resonance is the strongest, and the transmission peak is about 0.92. With the help of a uniform graphene layer, the Fano resonance can be effectively modulated, the frequency MD is about 20% if the Fermi level changes in the scope of 0.01–0.3 eV. These results can help us to design THz high Q-factor devices, such as sensors, filters, and modulators.

Pushing the Limits of Functionality‐Multiplexing Capability in Metasurface Design Based on Statistical Machine Learning

Abstract: As 2D metamaterials, metasurfaces provide an unprecedented means to manipulate light with the ability to multiplex different functionalities in a single planar device. Currently, most pursuits of multifunctional metasurfaces resort to empirically accommodating more functionalities at the cost of increasing structural complexity, with little effort to investigate the intrinsic restrictions of given meta‐atoms and thus the ultimate limits in the design. In this work, it is proposed to embed machine‐learning models in both gradient‐based and nongradient optimization loops for the automatic implementation of multifunctional metasurfaces. Fundamentally different from the traditional two‐step approach that separates phase retrieval and meta‐atom structural design, the proposed end‐to‐end framework facilitates full exploitation of the prescribed design space and pushes the multifunctional design capacity to its physical limit. With a single‐layer structure that can be readily fabricated, metasurface focusing lenses and holograms are experimentally demonstrated in the near‐infrared region. They show up to eight controllable responses subjected to different combinations of working frequencies and linear polarization states, which are unachievable by the conventional physics‐guided approaches. These results manifest the superior capability of the data‐driven scheme for photonic design, and will accelerate the development of complex devices and systems for optical display, communication, and computing.

Realization of a multi-band terahertz metamaterial absorber using two identical split rings having opposite opening directions connected by a rectangular patch

Abstract: A multi-band metamaterial absorber in the terahertz regime using a periodically arranged surface structure placed on an ultra-thin insulating dielectric slab backed by a metallic ground plane is demonstrated in this paper. Its surface structure consists of two identical split rings having opposite opening directions connected by a rectangular patch. The surface structure can have a strong electromagnetic interaction with incident terahertz waves, thereby generating two localized resonance absorption peaks with different frequencies, and the superposition effect of these two absorption peaks gives rise to dual-band absorption. With the aid of the near-field distributions of the two absorption peaks, the physical mechanism of the dual-band absorption is revealed. The dimension changes of the surface structure, including the split rings and the rectangular patch, play a key role in controlling and adjusting the resonance performance of dual-band absorption. Further optimization of the surface structure without increasing the number of sub-resonators provides the ability to increase the number of absorption peaks, which is different from prior multi-band absorption devices that typically require more sub-resonators in their surface structures. Multi-band metamaterial absorbers designed in this paper should have great application prospects in the field of terahertz absorption.

Broadband Polarization-insensitive and Oblique-incidence Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber with Multi-layered Graphene

Abstract: Metamaterial absorbers have been widely studied in the past decade and their performances have been incessantly improved in the practical applications. In this paper, we present a broadband terahertz metamaterial absorber based on graphene-polyimide composite structure, and the structure consists of a metal substrate and graphene layers with different sizes separated by two polyimide dielectric layers. The simulation results show that the absorptance of the absorber is greater than 90% in 0.86–3.54 THz with the fractional bandwidth of 121.8%. The absorptance can be adjusted by changing the chemical potential of graphene. In addition, the absorber is insensitive to polarization and still has robust tolerance for the oblique incidence. The equivalent circuit model based on transmission line is introduced to analyze the physics of the designed absorber and the results are in good agreement with the simulations. We believe that the designed absorber is a potential competitive candidate in terahertz energy harvesting and thermal emission.

Microwave Space-Time-Modulated Metasurfaces

Abstract: Over the past decade, static metasurfaces have proved to be low-profile and efficient apparatuses for transformation of electromagnetic waves. However, such metasurfaces are restricted by their reciprocal and time- and frequency-invariant responses. To overcome these restrictions, space-time-modulated metasurfaces have recently been introduced for versatile, reciprocal/nonreciprocal, and frequency translation of electromagnetic waves. These are capable of changing both the momentum and energy of the incident wave and provide functionalities that are far beyond the capabilities of conventional static and reciprocal metasurfaces. This Perspective provides a discussion on the unique functionalities of a microwave space-time-modulated metasurface. In particular, we review various techniques that have been recently used for the realization of metasurfaces introducing spatiotemporal decomposition, scattering and diffraction, digital coding, nonreciprocal transmission, serrodyne frequency translation, pure frequency conversion, parametric wave amplification, and multifunctional operations. Although the paper focuses on microwave space-time metasurfaces, the described concepts can inspire realization of their optical counterparts.

Micro‐Scale Auxetic Hierarchical Mechanical Metamaterials for Shape Morphing

Abstract: Shape morphing and the possibility of having control over mechanical properties via designed deformations have attracted a lot of attention in the materials community and led to a variety of applications with an emphasis on the space industry. However, current materials normally do not allow to have a full control over the deformation pattern and often fail to replicate such behavior at low scales which is essential in flexible electronics. Thus, in this paper, novel 2D and 3D microscopic hierarchical mechanical metamaterials using mutually‐competing substructures within the system that are capable of exhibiting a broad range of the highly unusual auxetic behavior are proposed. Using experiments (3D microprinted polymers) supported by computer simulations, it is shown that such ability can be controlled through geometric design parameters. Finally it is demonstrated that the considered structure can form a composite capable of shape morphing allowing it to deform to a predefined shape.

Design and printing of proprioceptive three-dimensional architected robotic metamaterials

Abstract: Advances in additive manufacturing techniques have enabled the creation of stimuli-responsive materials with designed three-dimensional (3D) architectures. Unlike biological systems in which functions such as sensing, actuation, and control are closely integrated, few architected materials have comparable system complexity. We report a design and manufacturing route to create a class of robotic metamaterials capable of motion with multiple degrees of freedom, amplification of strain in a prescribed direction in response to an electric field (and vice versa), and thus, programmed motions with self-sensing and feedback control. These robotic metamaterials consist of networks of piezoelectric, conductive, and structural elements interwoven into a designed 3D lattice. The resulting architected materials function as proprioceptive microrobots that actively sense and move. Description Form and function all in one Piezoelectric actuators are one route to driving motion in robotic systems. However, one typically needs either multiple crystals or engineered structures to allow motion with multiple degrees of freedom. Cui et al. designed architected materials composed of conductive and piezoelectric materials that couple electric field and mechanical strain (see the Perspective by Rafsanjani). The authors were able to engineer these three-dimensional materials to be capable of a variety of motions and transducer functions by using additive manufacturing to build the complex shapes. They demonstrate their functionality for actuation and sensing in a unified miniaturized mobile robot that can move, sense, and perform feedback control. —MSL Printed low-density materials form microrobots capable of high-speed motion, force output, and self-sensing feedback.

A novel auxetic metamaterial with enhanced mechanical properties and tunable auxeticity

Abstract: An auxetic metamaterial composed of novel re-entrant unit cells was proposed. The new re-entrant structure was constructed by adding wedge-shaped parts to the conventional re-entrant structure. Not only can the additional part regulate the structural stiffness during compression but it can also increase the stability of the structure by hindering lateral buckling of the structure, endowing the metamaterial with more significant and stable auxetic behavior in compression. The mechanical and deformation characteristics of the proposed metamaterial were investigated experimentally and numerically. A parametric study was carried out using the validated finite element model to analyze the influence of the size, angle and stiffness of the wedge-shaped part. Due to its improved stiffness and tunability, the proposed auxetic metamaterial has huge potential to be utilized in civil engineering and protection engineering in the form of two-dimensional, three-dimensional and tubular structures. Furthermore, the self-adjusting stiffness property, better stability and enhanced auxeticity make this metamaterial useful for smart materials and intelligent sensors.

Broadband cross-circular polarization carpet cloaking based on a phase change material metasurface in the mid-infrared region

Abstract: In view of the fact that most invisibility devices focus on linear polarization cloaking and that the characteristics of mid-infrared cloaking are rarely studied, we propose a cross-circularly polarized invisibility carpet cloaking device in the mid-infrared band. Based on the Pancharatnam-Berry phase principle, the unit cells with the cross-circular polarization gradient phase were carefully designed and constructed into a metasurface. In order to achieve tunable cross-circular polarization carpet cloaks, a phase change material is introduced into the design of the unit structure. When the phase change material is in amorphous and crystalline states, the proposed metasurface unit cells can achieve high-efficiency cross-polarization conversion, and reflection intensity can be tuned. According to the phase compensation principle of carpet cloaking, we construct a metasurface cloaking device with a phase gradient using the designed unit structure. From the near- and far-field distributions, the cross-circular polarization cloaking property is confirmed in the broadband wavelength range of 9.3–11.4 µm. The proposed cloaking device can effectively resist detection of cross-circular polarization.

Flexible Metamaterial Electronics

Abstract: Over the last decade, extensive efforts have been made on utilizing advanced materials and structures to improve the properties and functionalities of flexible electronics. While the conventional ways are approaching their natural limits, a revolutionary strategy, namely metamaterials, is emerging toward engineering structural materials to break the existing fetters. Metamaterials exhibit supernatural physical behaviors, in aspects of mechanical, optical, thermal, acoustic, and electronic properties that are inaccessible in natural materials, such as tunable stiffness or Poisson's ratio, manipulating electromagnetic or elastic waves, and topological and programmable morphability. These salient merits motivate metamaterials as a brand‐new research direction and have inspired extensive innovative applications in flexible electronics. Here, such a groundbreaking interdisciplinary field is first coined as “flexible metamaterial electronics,” focusing on enhancing and innovating functionalities of flexible electronics via the design of metamaterials. Herein, the latest progress and trends in this infant field are reviewed while highlighting their potential value. First, a brief overview starts with introducing the combination of metamaterials and flexible electronics. Then, the developed applications are discussed, such as self‐adaptive deformability, ultrahigh sensitivity, and multidisciplinary functionality, followed by the discussion of potential prospects. Finally, the challenges and opportunities facing flexible metamaterial electronics to advance this cutting‐edge field are summarized.

Recent progress in terahertz metamaterial modulators

Abstract: Abstract The terahertz (0.1–10 THz) range represents a fast-evolving research and industrial field. The great interest for this portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which lies between the photonics and the electronics ranges, stems from the unique and disruptive sectors where this radiation finds applications in, such as spectroscopy, quantum electronics, sensing and wireless communications beyond 5G. Engineering the propagation of terahertz light has always proved to be an intrinsically difficult task and for a long time it has been the bottleneck hindering the full exploitation of the terahertz spectrum. Amongst the different approaches that have been proposed so far for terahertz signal manipulation, the implementation of metamaterials has proved to be the most successful one, owing to the relative ease of realisation, high efficiency and spectral versatility. In this review, we present the latest developments in terahertz modulators based on metamaterials, while highlighting a few selected key applications in sensing, wireless communications and quantum electronics, which have particularly benefitted from these developments.

Metamaterials and Metasurfaces: A Review from the Perspectives of Materials, Mechanisms and Advanced Metadevices

Abstract: Throughout human history, the control of light, electricity and heat has evolved to become the cornerstone of various innovations and developments in electrical and electromagnetic technologies. Wireless communications, laser and computer technologies have all been achieved by altering the way light and other energy forms act naturally and how to manage them in a controlled manner. At the nanoscale, to control light and heat, matured nanostructure fabrication techniques have been developed in the last two decades, and a wide range of groundbreaking processes have been achieved. Photonic crystals, nanolithography, plasmonics phenomena and nanoparticle manipulation are the main areas where these techniques have been applied successfully and led to an emergent material sciences branch known as metamaterials. Metamaterials and functional material development strategies are focused on the structures of the matter itself, which has led to unconventional and unique electromagnetic properties through the manipulation of light—and in a more general picture the electromagnetic waves—in widespread manner. Metamaterial’s nanostructures have precise shape, geometry, size, direction and arrangement. Such configurations are impacting the electromagnetic light waves to generate novel properties that are difficult or even impossible to obtain with natural materials. This review discusses these metamaterials and metasurfaces from the perspectives of materials, mechanisms and advanced metadevices in depth, with the aim to serve as a solid reference for future works in this exciting and rapidly emerging topic.

Miniaturized and Actively Tunable Triple-Band Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber Using an Analogy I-Typed Resonator

Abstract: Abstract Triple-band terahertz metamaterial absorber with design of miniaturization and compactness is presented in this work. The unit cell of the terahertz absorber is formed by an analogy I-typed resonator (a rectangular patch with two small notches) deposited on top of dielectric sheet and metallic mirror. The miniaturized structure design exhibits three discrete frequency points with near-perfect absorption at terahertz regime. The three absorption peaks could be ascribed to localized resonances of analogy I-typed resonator, while the response positions of these absorption peaks at the analogy I-typed resonator are different by analyzing the near-field patterns of these resonance peaks. Changes in structure parameters of the analogy I-typed resonator are also investigated. Simulation results revealed that the notch sizes of the rectangular patch are the key factor to form the triple-band near-perfect absorption. Further structure optimization is given to demonstrate triple-band polarization insensitive performance. Moreover, actively tunable absorption properties are realized by inserting or introducing vanadium dioxide with adjustable conductivity into the metamaterial structure. It is revealed that the insulator–metal phase transition of vanadium dioxide is the main reason for the modulation of absorption performance. Compared with previous multiple-band absorbers, the device given here has excellent features of high degrees of simplification, miniaturization, and active modulation, these are important in practical applications.

Experimental and computational investigations of novel 3D printed square tubular lattice metamaterials with negative Poisson’s ratio

Abstract: Novel 3D printed square auxetic tubular lattice (SATL) structures were designed, fabricated and investigated. Their mechanical properties were examined by the finite element method and experiments. The height and wall thickness show different effects on the mechanical properties of SATL structures. Compared with the circular auxetic tubular (CATL) structures, the SATL structure has a lower peak force under axial load. Under lateral load, the SATL structure has higher stiffness and specific energy absorption. Moreover, the auxetic effect of the proposed SATL structure is also obvious under lateral load. Then, numerical investigations of several improved SATL structures were carried out, the results show that the improved square auxetic tubular lattice (ISATL) structures have stronger energy absorption capacity under axial and lateral loads. Due to their unique structural design and excellent mechanical properties, the SATL structures and ISATL structures have great potential for applications in civil engineering, vehicle crashworthiness and protective infrastructure.