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High-dimensional multiplexed metamaterial for cross-media all-sound communication
Kai Wu1, Jing-Jing Liu1, Hao-Xiang Li2
1Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, MOE, Institute of Acoustics, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. liujingjing@nju.edu.cn.
Materials Horizons
|February 18, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a high-dimensional multiplexed (HDM) metamaterial for efficient cross-media sound wave communication. This breakthrough enhances data transmission rates and information density in underwater and air environments.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics and Materials Science
- Wave Phenomena and Metamaterials
Background:
- Direct sound wave transmission across different states of matter is crucial for various scientific fields.
- Current materials have limitations in modulating multiple dimensions of cross-media sound waves, restricting transmission rates and information density.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel high-dimensional multiplexed (HDM) metamaterial for modulating all dimensions of cross-water-air sound waves.
- To overcome existing bottlenecks in cross-media sound wave transmission, enhancing channel capacity and spectral efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Development of a passive, compact, and efficient monolayered HDM metamaterial with subwavelength thickness.
- The metamaterial modulates amplitude, phase, frequency, and orbital angular momentum of sound waves.
- Experimental demonstration of cross-water-air sound communication using the HDM metamaterial as a passive meta-repeater.
Main Results:
- The HDM metamaterial successfully relayed and demodulated spatial-spectral multiplexed signals between water and air.
- Achieved real-time, high-speed, postprocessing-free communication with a complex image transmission.
- Demonstrated robustness against background noise and surface fluctuations, with a low bit error rate.
Conclusions:
- The developed HDM metamaterial offers a new paradigm for controlling sound waves in complex cross-media systems.
- This technique significantly enhances channel capacity and spectral efficiency for sound wave communication.
- Opens new possibilities for applications in the Internet of Everything and other advanced technologies.
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