A High-Temperature-Resistant Stealth Bandpass/Bandstop-Switchable Frequency Selective Metasurface

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetic Metamaterials
• Advanced Materials Science
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• High-speed vehicles generate extreme temperatures during operation, posing challenges for onboard electronic systems.
• Existing frequency-selective surfaces often lack adaptability and robust performance under harsh thermal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a bandpass/bandstop-switchable frequency-selective metasurface (FSM) suitable for high-temperature environments.
• To integrate liquid metal (LM) for tunable electromagnetic response and thermal management.
• To achieve low radar cross-section (RCS) characteristics for stealth applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a cavity structure using a high-temperature-resistant dielectric substrate.
• Integration of liquid metal (LM) into the metasurface for tunable electromagnetic properties.
• Experimental validation of the FSM's thermal resistance, switchability, and low RCS.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated switchable bandpass (5.53-6.51 GHz) and bandstop (5.30-5.76 GHz) characteristics.
• Achieved significant temperature reduction (order of magnitude) through LM fluidity for heat dissipation.
• Reported substantial RCS reduction (22.35 dB bandstop, 36.79 dB bandpass) compared to sheet metal.

Conclusions:

• The developed FSM exhibits high-temperature resistance, bandpass/bandstop switchability, and low RCS.
• The liquid metal integration provides effective thermal management and tunable electromagnetic functions.
• The FSM is a promising technology for high-speed aircraft applications.