Applications Of Metamaterials Research Articles

Background and emerging applications of acoustic metamaterials: a forum on classical waves

Acoustic metamaterials provide new dimensions over traditional materials to modulate sound wave. As a result, we observe new phenomenon and achieve new functions. This is a Forum article, please use the corresponding template.

Polyfluorene-based conjugated nanocomposites with in-situ gold nanoparticles: Synthesis via rational chemical passivation and characterization of supramolecular fibrillar structures

We present a rational and innovative chemical approach for synthesizing and characterizing conjugated polymer nanocomposites as direct passivation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), highlighting intrinsic morphologies and distinct photophysical properties in the solid state. The pioneering synthesis of polyfluorene with thiol, LaPPS79.10, revolutionized its application as a direct passivator of AuNPs, resulting in stable nanocomposites with the capacity for storage in the dry state and subsequent redispersion in organic solvent. The presence of AuNPs with average diameters of 3.5 ± 1.3 nm induced the formation of an interconnected fibrillar supramolecular network (ribbon-like) and several microdomains in the nanocomposite (LaPPS79.10+AuNPs), correlated by XRD, TEM and SEM measurements. Characterization of the polyfluorene precursor derivative, LaPPS10, revealed bundle-like morphologies with aggregation-induced emission (AIE). Introducing thiol groups into the intermediate structure induced polymer chain organization (LaPPS79.10), leading to unique straw-like and lenticular bundle morphologies, disrupting the non-planar π-π packing and quenching the emission, a case of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). In LaPPS79.10+AuNPs, the proximity of the π system to the Au localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) resulted in high absorption, negligible self-absorption, and efficient emission quenching, as well as improved thermal resistance compared to the original polymer. The unprecedented discovery of the properties resulting from the electronic interaction between the π system of the AuNPs passivating polymer and the effects of plasmonic resonance represents a significant advance in nanoscience, opening new perspectives for exciting applications in organic photovoltaic devices and metamaterials.

Oriblock: The origami-blocks based on hinged dissection

Traditional origami, a well-known art of paper-folding, does not account for material thickness. Subsequently, several thickness-accommodation techniques have been developed, considering the non-negligible thickness of materials, which enables the application of origami to a wide range of mechanisms. Although these techniques prevent self-intersections and preserve kinematics after accommodating panel thickness, they are limited by their reliance on initial zero-thickness origami patterns in two dimensions. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel technique, the volume-accommodation technique in three-dimensional space, which allocates non-coplanar origami creases based on solid geometry to allow a greater variety of shape-changing motions. Typical solid geometries, such as a pyramid and a prism, are selected as examples to demonstrate the design procedures. Closure equations of the obtained oriblock are used to analyze the kinematic properties. Additionally, Bennett and Myard Linkages are derived from oriblocks based on their kinematic equivalence to strengthen their connections. As a result, this new type of origami can offer a variety of mechanisms for designers and facilitate potential applications in origami-inspired metamaterials and robotics.

Hydrogel-Based Network Metamaterials with Biological Tissue-like Poisson's Ratio Behavior and Stress Response.

Soft network metamaterials are widely used in fields such as flexible electronics, tissue engineering, and biomedicine due to their superior properties including low density, high stretchability, and high breathability. However, the prediction and customization of the nonlinear mechanical behavior of soft network metamaterials remain a challenging problem. In this study, a family of hydrogel-based network metamaterials with biological tissue-like mechanical properties are developed based on a machine learning-driven optimization design method. Numerical and experimental results explain the relationship between the mechanical properties of the designed metamaterials and their microstructural features and stretching ratios. The results indicate that the hydrogel-based network metamaterials exhibit J-shaped stress-deformation (σ-λ) behavior similar to biological tissues. This phenomenon arises from the transition of the deformation mode of metamaterials from bending-dominated to stretching-dominated as the stretching ratio increases. Based on the proposed design scheme, the Poisson's ratio of metamaterials can be adjusted within a remarkably wide range of -1.06 to 1.34. Furthermore, through optimizing the design parameters of the metamaterial, the customization of network metamaterials with biological tissue-like zero Poisson's ratio behavior and stress response is achieved. The potential applications of hydrogel-based network metamaterials are demonstrated through artificial skin and LED integrated device. This research offers novel insights into predicting, designing, and fabricating the mechanical behavior of soft network metamaterials.

Macroscopic Monograin Nano-Gyroid Thin Films in 4-inch Scale Through Shear-Rolling and Subsequent Solvent Annealing.

The gyroid structure from self-assembly is highly attractive for optical applications such as photonic crystals and metamaterials. However, due to the direction-dependent nature of these applications, achieving a monograin-level structure over a large area has remained challenging. In this study, the fabrication of unidirectionally oriented anisotropic nanocylinders of polystyrene-block-polydimethylsiloxane (PS-b-PDMS) is reported block copolymer thin films up to a 4-inch scale via a shear-rolling process, followed by solvent annealing to induce phase transition to nearly monograin gyroid structures. Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) analysis and cross-sectional scanning electron microscope (SEM) images in the direction parallel to the shear-rolling direction reveal the preferential orientation with the (111) plane onto the YZ axis of the film, while only the (110) plane on the YZ axis of the film is observed in the perpendicular direction, with grain sizes approaching single-grain levels. For metamaterial applications, the PDMS domain is selectively removed, and gold is electroplated to produce monograin gold gyroid films.

Uncertainty quantification driven machine learning for improving model accuracy in imbalanced regression tasks

Several factors are known to determine the quality of machine learning models, one of which is the dataset quality. One problem related to the quality of a dataset is the imbalance issue. An imbalanced dataset contains significantly more data points for certain values of the output variable which increases the overfitting risk and negatively affects the prediction accuracy. In this article, we propose using epistemic uncertainty quantification (UQ) of machine learning models to identify rare samples in imbalanced regression problems for balancing the dataset. The developed algorithm, uncertainty quantification-driven imbalanced regression (UQDIR), is guided by UQ to restructure the training set with an adequate weight function using existent samples, eliminating the need for new data collection. After identifying rare samples with UQ, the algorithm selects a sample from the training set, assigns a resampling weight using the new weight function, and finally resamples the selected sample according to its assigned weight. We test UQDIR on several benchmark datasets and different machine learning algorithms, then compare its performance with similar imbalanced regression methods. A metamaterial design problem application is also provided for demonstrating the effectiveness of the algorithm in real-world scenarios. We show that improving the quality of UQ metrics results in improved model accuracy.

Application of G-Ori metamaterials as sports equipment baseball bat in an electro-magneto-elastic sandwich composite beam

In this work, a higher order thickness stretched model is employed for electro-magneto-elastic results of a shear deformable baseball bat as a sandwich beam. The formulation is performed using the two dimensional constitutive relations as well as electric potential and magnetic induction relations for a shear deformable baseball bat. The proposed model can be used as a baseball bat in sport equipment. The principle of virtual work is employed to derive governing equations in the presence of thermal, electrical and magnetic loads. The physical model is a sandwich baseball bat beam composed of graphene origami reinforced copper matric core integrated with two piezoelectric/piezomagnetic face-sheets in thermal environment excited by electric and magnetic potentials.

Ionogels, Promising Exploration for Flexible Optically Transparent Tunable All‐Dielectric Electromagnetic Metamaterials

AbstractIonogels, as a novel class of environmentally friendly electronic materials, have received extensive attention. This study successfully prepared P(AM‐co‐AA) ionogel with optical transparency and flexibility via chemical polymerization. Experimental outcomes reveal that the dispersion of anions and cations within the ionogel is effectively controlled by the polymer network, resulting in distinct dispersive dielectric property, which is suitable for applications in electromagnetic metamaterials. Leveraging these properties, two distinct electromagnetic metamaterial devices are developed: An Ionogel‐based Broadband Absorber achieves over 90% absorption across 10.9–25.36 GHz, and An Ionogel‐based Frequency Selective Rasorber (FSR) transmits within 4.62–5.86 GHz, exhibiting minimal insertion loss −1.45 dB and achieves greater than 90% absorption from 13 to 17.8 GHz. High agreement between experimental results and simulations validates the feasibility of utilizing ionogel in electromagnetic metamaterial applications and introduces a novel paradigm and methodology for designing and fabricating flexible electromagnetic metamaterial devices.

Blueprints of Architected Materials: A Guide to Metamaterial Design for Tissue Engineering.

Mechanical metamaterials are rationally designed structures engineered to exhibit extraordinary properties, often surpassing those of their constituent materials. The geometry of metamaterials' building blocks, referred to as unit cells, plays an essential role in determining their macroscopic mechanical behavior. Due to their hierarchical design and remarkable properties, metamaterials hold significant potential for tissue engineering; however their implementation in the field remains limited. The major challenge hindering the broader use of metamaterials lies in the complexity of unit cell design and fabrication. To address this gap, a comprehensive guide is presented detailing the design principles of well-established metamaterials. The essential unit cell geometric parameters and design constraints, as well as their influence on mechanical behavior, are summarized highlighting essential points for effective fabrication. Moreover, the potential integration of artificial intelligence techniques is explored in meta-biomaterial design for patient- and application-specific design. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of current applications of mechanical metamaterials is provided in tissue engineering, categorized by tissue type, thereby showcasing the versatility of different designs in matching the mechanical properties of the target tissue. This review aims to provide a valuable resource for tissue engineering researchers and aid in the broader use of metamaterials in the field.

Recent Developments and Prospects of Electromagnetically Active Metamaterials in Biosensing

This paper provides an overview of the progress of research on electromagnetically active metamaterials in the field of biosensing, especially the potential of terahertz metamaterials for biosensor applications. Electromagnetically active metamaterials exhibit a negative refractive index and perfect absorption through their special structure, and their electromagnetic behavior is affected by their structure and geometry, which is different from traditional materials. The article reviews the application of terahertz technology for the bio-detection of cancer cells and apoptotic processes using periodic metal arrays by terahertz biosensors, demonstrating the advantages of terahertz biosensors, such as high sensitivity and detection without labeling. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the advancements in research concerning electromagnetically active metamaterials within the domain of biosensing, with a particular emphasis on the potential applications of terahertz metamaterials in biosensor technology. Electromagnetically active metamaterials are characterized by their negative refractive index and perfect absorption, which arise from their distinctive structural properties. The electromagnetic behavior of these materials is significantly influenced by their design and geometry, setting them apart from conventional materials. The article examines the utilization of terahertz technology for the bio-detection of cancer cells and apoptotic processes tunability, employing periodic metal arrays in terahertz biosensors. It underscores the advantages of terahertz biosensors, which include high sensitivity and the capability to detect biological entities without the necessity for labeling. Terahertz metamaterial biosensors are promising for protein, virus, and cancer cell detection. This paper also explores the design and application of chiral metamaterials, especially indium tin oxide-based mid-infrared chiral metamaterials, to solve the problem of the large size of traditional materials and investigates their circular dichroism. Looking ahead, electromagnetically active metamaterials, especially terahertz metamaterials, are expected to improve resolving power and sensitivity, reduce costs, and expand the applications of biosensors in the biomedical field. The applications and research of these sensors will continue to advance with the advancement of micro and nanoprocessing technologies.

Low-frequency broadband acoustic ventilation meta-barrier based on consecutive multiple Fano resonances

Acoustic metamaterials utilizing Fano resonance provide the possibility of simultaneous airborne sound insulation and high-performance ventilation. However, the ultra-sharp line shape results in a narrow working frequency range, which is still insufficient for practical applications. In this work, we propose a low-frequency acoustic meta-barrier supporting consecutive multiple Fano resonances (CMFRs) with broadband (~75%) capability, efficient ventilation, and ultra-thin thickness, etc. The barrier features a binary metastructure, incorporating a chiral space coiling tunnel and a hollow pipe in a planar arrangement. This configuration offers discrete and continuous states within the composed Fano system, corresponding to the tunnel and the pipe, respectively. By means of superposition of multi-order Fano resonance modes, the destructive interference between the discrete and continuum states keeps effective in a broad frequency range, while simultaneously achieving high air permeability. Numerical results of transmission loss show significant attenuation of incident energy in the range of 479-1032 Hz. Our work lays the groundwork for next generation of Fano-based metamaterial applications, with far-reaching implications for noise control and related fields.

Macro-Nanoporous Film with Cauliflower-Shaped Fibers for Highly Efficient Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling.

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) is a simple and effective cooling approach that does not consume any extra energy just by highly reflecting shortwave sunlight and highly radiating infrared heat through the atmospheric windows. In recent years, the application of photonic coolers and metamaterials for PDRC has been studied. However, they usually have complex processes and high precision requirements, which seriously limit large-scale fabrication. In this paper, a high-performance polyvinylidene difluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) PDRC fiber film was prepared by a simple and efficient electrospinning method combined with phase separation, and the obtained PVDF-HFP fibers have a cauliflower-shaped macro-nanoporous structure. The cauliflower-shaped structure provides more scattering sites of the fibers, and the fiber film with the macro-nanoporous morphology has a high scattering ability in the solar region, resulting in a high solar reflectivity of 99.65%. The PVDF-HFP porous film possesses an emissivity of 90.44% in the atmospheric window, and it can reach a maximum cooling temperature of 10.2 °C during the daytime. In addition, the excellent mechanical strength provides a guarantee for its large-scale practical application. This study offers an effective improvement strategy for the spectral performance of polymer fiber films, which is meaningful for green cooling management and reduction of carbon emission.

Programmable Quasi-Zero-Stiffness Metamaterials

Quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) metamaterials have attracted significant interest for application in low-frequency vibration isolation. However, previous work has been limited by the design mechanism of QZS metamaterials, as it is still difficult to achieve a simplified structure suitable for practical engineering applications. Here, we introduce a class of programmable QZS metamaterials and a novel design mechanism that address this long-standing difficulty. The proposed QZS metamaterials are formed by an array of representative unit cells (RUCs) with the expected QZS features, where the QZS features of the RUC are tailored by means of a structural bionic mechanism. In our experiments, we validate the QZS features exhibited by the RUCs, the programmable QZS behavior, and the potential promising applications of these programmable QZS metamaterials in low-frequency vibration isolation. The obtained results could inspire a new class of programmable QZS metamaterials for low-frequency vibration isolation in current and future mechanical and other engineering applications.

Nonlinear soliton spiral induces coupled multimode dynamics in multi-stable dissipative metamaterials

With the robust and self-trapped properties, recent advances about soliton dynamics in multi-stable mechanical metamaterials have led to many innovative techniques from signal processing to robotics. This work proposes a multi-stable mechanical metamaterial driven by nonlinear dissipative solitons, in which the coupling and decoupling of multiple locomotion modes can be achieved. Based on a cylinder network with asymmetric energy landscape, the uniform field model of Landau theory is developed. During the theoretical calculation, the analytical solutions of several dissipative solitons are derived, which allow multiple special behaviors of solitary waves, such as wave velocity gaps, directional propagation and spiral phase transition. By incorporating such effects into robotic designs, a variety of complex movements can be achieved by a single structure, including hopping, rolling, rotating, swinging, bending and translational components. In particular, as excitation positions change, the mechanical metamaterial can flexibly switch multiple locomotion modes without changing configurations, e.g., spinning and spin-less, straight and oblique as well as coupled multimode movements. This work wishes to provide some new inspirations for the applications of nonlinear elastic wave metamaterials and phase transition theory in robotics.

Local resonance metamaterial-based integrated design for suppressing longitudinal and transverse waves in fluid-conveying pipes

To solve the problem of low broadband multi-directional vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes, a novel metamaterial periodic structure with multi-directional wide bandgaps is proposed. First, an integrated design method is proposed for the longitudinal and transverse wave control of fluid-conveying pipes, and a novel periodic structure unit model is constructed for vibration reduction. Based on the bandgap vibration reduction mechanism of the acoustic metamaterial periodic structure, the material parameters, structural parameters, and the arrangement interval of the periodic structure unit are optimized. The finite element method (FEM) is used to predict the vibration transmission characteristics of the fluid-conveying pipe installed with the vibration reduction periodic structure. Then, the wave/spectrum element method (WSEM) and experimental test are used to verify the calculated results above. Lastly, the vibration attenuation characteristics of the structure under different conditions, such as rubber material parameters, mass ring material, and fluid-structure coupling effect, are analyzed. The results show that the structure can produce a complete bandgap of 46 Hz–75 Hz in the low-frequency band below 100 Hz, which can effectively suppress the low broadband vibration of the fluid-conveying pipe. In addition, a high damping rubber material is used in the design of the periodic structure unit, which realizes the effective suppression of each formant peak of the pipe, and improves the vibration reduction effect of the fluid-conveying pipe. Meanwhile, the structure has the effect of suppressing both bending vibration and longitudinal vibration, and effectively inhibits the transmission of transverse waves and longitudinal waves in the pipe. The research results provide a reference for the application of acoustic metamaterials in the multi-directional vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes.

Mode conversion approach for wave attenuation enhancement of 3D rainbow metamaterials

One barrier, preventing the wide applications of elastic metamaterials (EMMs), is their limited ability to attenuate waves at low frequencies. Rainbow metamaterials (RMs), characterized by spatially varying structural parameters, can exhibit outstanding performance, boosting wider wave attenuation frequency ranges (stopbands) at lower frequencies compared to their counterparts of finite EMMs. However, attributed to the intricate topologies and constitutive relationships in 3D RMs, effectively configuring them to achieve enhanced wave-suspending capability is challenging. In most existing design approaches, frequency response analysis (FRA) method is frequently employed to iteratively calculate reliable stopband characteristics, leading to a significant computational burden. Herein, to address these challenges, a novel mode conversion approach is developed, underpinned by a recently proposed modal-based evaluation method (MEM) to estimate stopband characteristics, and a novel layer-based energy manipulation strategy to redirect energy, originating in excitation place, away from the output. The proposed approach is demonstrated to be effective for 3D RM design, through guiding the adjustment of geometrical parameters (GPs) of unit cells in each layer on 3D RMs. Moreover, the structure robustness is tested through experiments, facilitating the applications of 3D metamaterials.

Fast inverse design of microwave and infrared Bi-stealth metamaterials based on equivalent circuit model

This work proposed a fast inverse design method for microwave and infrared (IR) bi-stealth metamaterials based on the equivalent circuit model (ECM). Using this method, we designed a microwave and IR bi-stealth metamaterial by deploying a multilayered structure of the indium tin oxide (ITO) film based metasurface. First, the IR emissivity of the ITO film was calculated in the framework of the ECM. Then, an ITO metasurface was proposed to implement low IR emission and high microwave transmission simultaneously. Based on the ECM of the square patch, the ECM of the whole metamaterial was established at the microwave band. An inverse design program was built by incorporating the ECM with genetic algorithm (GA). Structure parameters of the metamaterial were optimized by GA to achieve the broadest microwave stealth bandwidth for the given thickness. Finally, the sample of the optimized bi-stealth metamaterial was prepared and tested. The calculated, simulated, and measured results are in good agreement, showing that such a metamaterial has an IR emissivity of 0.18 in the band from 3 to 14 μm and an efficient microwave stealth band from 4.8 to 17 GHz with a thickness of 4.9 mm. The proposed method will benefit the design and application of microwave and IR bi-stealth metamaterials.

Investigation of additively manufactured metamaterials for load-bearing structural applications

The study explores the potential application of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) metamaterials in structural engineering and architecture. It evaluates parametric design possibilities and analysis approaches while examining the mechanical properties of five TPMS structures (Gyroid, Schwarz, Diamond, Split, and Neovius). Comparisons are made between Additively Manufactured (AM) samples and numerical simulations. Gyroid and Diamond structures, which display advantageous properties, undergo further investigation with parametric design for uniform and non-uniform lattices. The study proposes simplified analytical formulations for metamaterial design, along with Homogenization analysis and detailed FEM analysis. Compression tests reveal distinct failure modes and stress-strain behaviors for each TPMS. The research suggests further investigation into the influence of the 3D printing process, void detection, and thermomechanical analysis. Finally, the study provides insights into tailored applications of these lattice metamaterials in structural engineering.

Low-Frequency Sound-Insulation Performance of Labyrinth-Type Helmholtz and Thin-Film Compound Acoustic Metamaterial.

This paper presents a type of acoustic metamaterial that combines a labyrinth channel with a Helmholtz cavity and a thin film. The labyrinth-opening design and thin-film combination contribute to the metamaterial's exceptional sound-insulation performance. After comprehensive research, it is observed that in the frequency range of 20-1200 Hz, this acoustic metamaterial exhibits multiple sound-insulation peaks, showing a high overall sound-insulation quality. Specifically, the first sound-insulation peak is 26.3 Hz, with a bandwidth of 13 Hz and giving a transmission loss of 56.5 dB, showing excellent low-frequency sound-insulation performance. To further understand the low-frequency sound-insulation mechanism, this paper uses the equivalent model method to conduct an acoustic-electrical analogy, construct an equivalent model of the acoustic metamaterial, and delve into the sound-insulation mechanism at the first sound-insulation peak. To confirm the validity of the theoretical calculations, physical experiments are carried out by 3D printing experimental samples. The analysis of the experimental data has yielded results that are consistent with the simulation data, providing empirical evidence for the accuracy of the theoretical model. The material has significant practical application value. Finally, various factors are studied in depth based on the established equivalent model, which can provide valuable insights for the design and practical engineering application of acoustic metamaterials.

3D printing of active mechanical metamaterials: A critical review

The emergence of mechanical metamaterials from 4D printing has paved the way for developing advanced hierarchical structures with superior multifunctionalities. In particular, 4D-printed mechanical metamaterials exhibit extraordinary mechanical performance by integrating multiphysics stimuli with advanced structures when actuated by external factors, thereby altering their shapes, properties, and functionalities. This critical review offers readers a comprehensive overview of the rapidly growing 4D printing technology for developing novel mechanical metamaterials. It provides essential information about the multifunctionalities of 4D-printed mechanical metamaterials, including energy absorption and shape-morphing behavior in response to physical, chemical, or mechanical stimuli. These capabilities are key to developing smart and intelligent structures for multifunctional applications such as biomedical, photonics, acoustics, energy storage, and thermal insulation. The primary focus of this review is to describe the structural and functional applications of mechanical metamaterials developed through 4D printing. This technology leverages the shape-shifting functions of smart materials in applications such as micro-grippers, soft robots, biomedical devices, and self-deployable structures. Additionally, the review addresses current progress and challenges in the field of 4D-printed mechanical metamaterials. In conclusion, recent developments in 4D-printed mechanical metamaterials could establish a new paradigm for applications in engineering and science.