Title : Reimagining electromagnetic sensing with 2D metamaterials
Abstract:
Metamaterials—artificially engineered materials with subwavelength-scale structures—represent a significant advancement in materials science, offering unprecedented control over electromagnetic wave behavior. Their unique ability to manipulate, localize, and enhance electromagnetic fields has opened new frontiers in sensing and detection technologies. This presentation explores the design and application of 2D metamaterial-based microwave sensors operating across the L to X bands, emphasizing their potential as compact, high-sensitivity, and multifunctional sensing platforms. By leveraging resonant phenomena such as those exhibited by planar split-ring resonators (SRRs) and perfect absorbers, these sensors achieve strong field confinement, sharp resonance peaks, and high quality (Q) factors, resulting in exceptional detection precision. The sensing mechanism is governed by the interaction between the material under test (MUT) and the localized electromagnetic fields within the metamaterial surface, where variations in permittivity, permeability, thickness, or chemical composition induce measurable shifts in resonance frequency or amplitude. Through rigorous simulation and experimental validation, these metamaterial structures have demonstrated excellent sensitivity and stability, making them ideal candidates for next-generation sensing applications.
The talk further discusses design optimization strategies for metamaterial sensors, focusing on key parameters such as geometry, substrate selection, and resonance tuning to achieve superior performance. The integration of these structures onto flexible and conformal substrates is explored, enabling lightweight and adaptable sensing devices suitable for diverse environments, including biomedical diagnostics, structural health monitoring, and industrial process control. Emerging research directions such as active and tunable metamaterials employing graphene, phase-change materials, and liquid crystals are highlighted for their ability to achieve dynamic, reconfigurable sensing capabilities. By bridging electromagnetic design principles with materials innovation, metamaterials are poised to redefine the landscape of advanced electromagnetic sensors. The presentation concludes by addressing current challenges and future opportunities in achieving scalable, cost-effective, and multifunctional sensing platforms, establishing metamaterials as transformative materials driving the next generation of smart, adaptive, and high-performance microwave sensing technologies.
Keywords: Metamaterials, Advanced Materials, Microwave Sensors, High Q-Factor, Flexible Sensors, Electromagnetic Sensing, L–X Band
