Abstract
In this paper, we propose a novel microfluidic tunable metamaterial (MM) absorber printed on a paper substrate in silver nanoparticle ink. The metamaterial is designed using a periodic array consisting of square patches. The conductive patterns are inkjet-printed on paper using silver nanoparticle inks. The microfluidic channels are laser-etched on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The conductive patterns on paper and the microfluidic channels on PMMA are bonded by an SU-8 layer that is also inkjet-printed on the conductive patterns. The proposed MM absorber provides frequency-tuning capability for different fluids in the microfluidic channels. We performed full-wave simulations and measurements that confirmed that the resonant frequency decreased from 4.42 GHz to 3.97 GHz after the injection of distilled water into the microfluidic channels. For both empty and water-filled channels, the absorptivity is higher than 90% at horizontal and vertical polarizations.
Highlights
Electromagnetic (EM) metamaterials (MMs) are artificial structures whose properties are not observed in naturally occurring materials [1]
Because of the electric/magnetic resonance of MM absorbers, frequencytunable MM absorbers can be realized by using tunable devices such as PIN diodes [7], varactor diodes [8], liquid crystal [9], and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) [10,11,12]
Microfluidics have not been applied to frequency-tunable MM absorber applications
Summary
Electromagnetic (EM) metamaterials (MMs) are artificial structures whose properties are not observed in naturally occurring materials [1]. We propose a frequency-tunable MM absorber using a novel tuning mechanism. The proposed MM is realized using inkjet-printing technology, which is the first approach in MM absorber applications. The inkjet-printing process is an additive fabrication process that is eco-friendly because of its direct writing and because it generates no chemical waste. We propose a novel inkjet-printed MM absorber with frequency-tuning capability using microfluidic channels. The proposed absorber is the first microfluidically reconfigurable metamaterial absorber that uses inkjet-printing technology. The switching speed of microfluidics is slower than that of other electronic tunable devices, the fluidic-controllable resonance of the proposed absorber is beneficial for wireless chemical or biosensor applications. Inkjet-printing technology and organic paper substrates provide additional advantages for low-cost sensor applications [18]
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