Design of optically transparent metasurfaces based on CVD graphene for mmWave applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Electromagnetics and Metamaterials
• Electrical and Computer Engineering

Background:

• Metasurfaces offer advanced control over electromagnetic waves, but optical transparency and reconfigurability remain challenges.
• Millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies are crucial for next-generation wireless communication (Beyond-5G and 6G).
• Graphene's tunable electronic properties make it a promising material for reconfigurable metasurfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and numerically investigate a novel optically transparent digital metasurface.
• To demonstrate the metasurface's programmability for binary encoding and customized electromagnetic functions.
• To explore the potential integration of such metasurfaces in future wireless communication ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Design and numerical optimization of unit cells for a digital metasurface.
• Utilizing chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene as programmable elements.
• Analysis of metasurface performance for both transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) polarizations.

Main Results:

• Unit cells were optimized to exhibit two distinct states for binary encoding.
• The metasurface demonstrated customizable electromagnetic functions, including wide-band beam splitting and Radar Cross Section reduction.
• The proposed metasurface is optically transparent and reflective in the mmWave range.

Conclusions:

• The developed optically transparent digital metasurface based on graphene is a viable technology for mmWave applications.
• Programmable metasurfaces can achieve diverse electromagnetic functionalities, enhancing signal control.
• Integration into windows and transparent surfaces could revolutionize Beyond-5G and 6G communication infrastructure.