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Photonics
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Advancements in Terahertz Metamaterial Optics, Devices, and Applications
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Advancements in Terahertz Metamaterial Optics, Devices, and Applications

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Interaction Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 4935

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Longhai Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronics Information Technology, Ministry of Education, School of Precision Instruments and Opto-Electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Interests: terahertz; metamaterials; biosensing; non-destructive test
Dr. Zhang Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Suzhou 215500, China
Interests: plasmonics; terahertz; metasurface; biosensing
Dr. Chenglong Zheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Physics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Interests: metasurface; terahertz photonics; ultrafast optics; diffractive optical elements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Terahertz metamaterial optics represent a rapidly growing field of research that focuses on manipulating and controlling terahertz waves. This emerging technology utilizes engineered structures known as metamaterials to achieve unprecedented control over THz radiation. By employing the unique properties of metamaterials, researchers aim to develop advanced devices such as THz metasurfaces, photodetectors, and dynamic modulators. The potential applications of THz metamaterial optics extend to diverse areas, including plasmonics, ultrahigh-sensitivity biosensing, optofluidics, and high-speed communication systems.

This Special Issue aims to present original state-of-the-art research articles to discuss the advancements in THz metamaterial optics and devices including their potential applications. It will include but is not limited to solicited papers dealing with novel plasmonics, THz metasurface designs, ultrahigh-sensitivity biosensing and biosensor technologies, terahertz–liquid interactions in optofluidics, THz broadband photodetectors, and THz dynamic modulators.

We strongly encourage the submission of papers focusing on the keywords listed below. However, studies on other related THz topics will also be considered.

Dr. Longhai Liu
Dr. Zhang Zhang
Dr. Chenglong Zheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plasmonics
  • THz metasurfaces
  • biosensing and biosensors
  • optofluidics
  • THz photodetectors
  • dynamic modulators
  • terahertz non-destructive test

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2160 KB  
Article
Research on Coal and Rock Identification by Integrating Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy and Multiple Machine Learning Algorithms
by Dongdong Ye, Lipeng Hu, Jianfei Xu, Yadong Yang, Zeping Liu, Sitong Li, Jiabao Li, Longhai Liu and Changpeng Li
Photonics 2026, 13(5), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13050409 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 222
Abstract
Aiming to address the problems of low accuracy in coal–rock identification during coal mining, which lead to energy waste and safety hazards, a high-precision coal–rock medium identification method combining terahertz time-domain spectroscopy technology and multiple machine learning algorithms is proposed. By preparing coal–rock [...] Read more.
Aiming to address the problems of low accuracy in coal–rock identification during coal mining, which lead to energy waste and safety hazards, a high-precision coal–rock medium identification method combining terahertz time-domain spectroscopy technology and multiple machine learning algorithms is proposed. By preparing coal–rock samples with a gradient change in coal content, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy data of coal–rock mixed media are collected, and optical parameters such as the refractive index and absorption coefficient are extracted. Principal component analysis is used to reduce the dimensionality of the terahertz data, and machine learning algorithms such as support vector machine, least squares support vector machine, artificial neural networks, and random forests are adopted for classification and identification. The study found that terahertz waves are more sensitive to coal–rock media in the 0.7–1.3 THz frequency band, and that the refractive index and absorption coefficient of coal–rock mixed media are significantly positively correlated with coal content within the range of 0–30%. After feature extraction and K-fold cross-validation, the random forest model achieved a coal–rock classification accuracy of over 96% on the test set, significantly outperforming other comparison algorithms. The research verifies the efficiency and practicality of terahertz technology combined with multiple machine learning algorithms in coal–rock identification, providing a new method for fields such as mineral separation. This method has, to a certain extent, broken through the accuracy bottleneck of traditional coal–rock identification technologies within its applicable range, providing a new solution for real-time detection of coal–rock interfaces and is expected to further reduce the risks of ineffective mining and roof accidents in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Terahertz Metamaterial Optics, Devices, and Applications)
12 pages, 8798 KB  
Article
Influence of Thickness and Mass Ratio on Terahertz Spectra and Optical Parameters of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia
by Miao Yu, Chenxi Liu, Yinxiao Miao, Lin Liu, Dawei Wei, Fangrong Hu, Haiyuan Yu, Hao Mei, Yong Shang, Yang Feng, Yanling Pei and Shengkai Gong
Photonics 2025, 12(3), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12030201 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1224
Abstract
Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) is an important material in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), which are widely applied in aviation engines and ground gas turbines. Therefore, the quality inspection of the YSZ layer is of great significance for the safety of engines and gas turbines. [...] Read more.
Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) is an important material in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), which are widely applied in aviation engines and ground gas turbines. Therefore, the quality inspection of the YSZ layer is of great significance for the safety of engines and gas turbines. In this work, the YSZ powder is mixed with Polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as teflon) in different mass ratios and pressed into tablets with different thicknesses. A terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system is used to obtain their time-domain spectra, and their frequency spectra are then obtained by fast Fourier transform. Based on theory formulas, we obtained the frequency-dependent curves of the absorption coefficient, refractive index, and absorbance of the YSZ tablets. The results show that the YSZ tablets have characteristic absorption peaks in the terahertz band, and these peaks are affected by the mass ratio of YSZ to teflon and the thickness of the tablets. Finally, we conducted a terahertz Raman spectroscopy test of the YSZ tablets for the first time. The results show that in the range from 0 to 1600 cm−1, there are about ten strong Raman peaks. More importantly, these peaks are approximately independent of the mass ratio and the thickness of tablets. This study is of great significance for the nondestructive testing of TBC quality using terahertz spectroscopy technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Terahertz Metamaterial Optics, Devices, and Applications)
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16 pages, 6673 KB  
Article
Simulated Microfluidic Device Constructed Using Terahertz Metamaterial for Sensing and Switching Applications
by Mei Zhu, Xiuxiu Fu, Hongfang Yang, Qianqian Song, Hai-Lung Wang and Shengqian Ma
Photonics 2025, 12(3), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12030194 - 25 Feb 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1066
Abstract
We propose a microfluidic device that incorporates two layers of planar split-ring resonator (SRR)-based terahertz (THz) metamaterials and study its optical performance through simulation. The device features a concise design and leverages mature and straightforward fabrication processes. Our simulations reveal its remarkable sensing [...] Read more.
We propose a microfluidic device that incorporates two layers of planar split-ring resonator (SRR)-based terahertz (THz) metamaterials and study its optical performance through simulation. The device features a concise design and leverages mature and straightforward fabrication processes. Our simulations reveal its remarkable sensing capabilities, with a sensitivity of up to 507.7 GHz/RIU for refractive index (RI) sensing and 16.03 GHz/μm for pressure sensing. Moreover, the device enables real-time monitoring, as it allows for a continuous flow of liquid between the layers. It can also function as an optical switch with a straightforward controlling method involving injecting and evacuating liquid. The maximum modulation depth (MD) achieved is 64.5%. The influence of fabrication errors during assembly of the two layers was studied in detail through simulation. The device demonstrates great robustness against fabrication imperfections, such as layer misalignment and spacer thickness variations, for most of the applications. Strict alignment is only necessary when targeting high-sensitivity RI sensing using the second resonance. The device’s unique combination of sensitivity, tunability, and compact design paves the way for potential applications in diverse fields, including biosensing, environmental monitoring, and optical communications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Terahertz Metamaterial Optics, Devices, and Applications)
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Review

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26 pages, 13111 KB  
Review
Advancing Terahertz Biochemical Sensing: From Spectral Fingerprinting to Intelligent Detection
by Haitao Zhang, Zijie Dai, Yunxia Ye and Xudong Ren
Photonics 2026, 13(4), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13040379 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 502
Abstract
Biochemical detection is fundamental to various scientific disciplines, yet conventional methods still face inherent bottlenecks in achieving rapid, ultrasensitive, and simultaneous multi-target analysis. Terahertz (THz) waves, characterized by their unique spectral fingerprinting capabilities and non-destructive properties, have emerged as a compelling platform for [...] Read more.
Biochemical detection is fundamental to various scientific disciplines, yet conventional methods still face inherent bottlenecks in achieving rapid, ultrasensitive, and simultaneous multi-target analysis. Terahertz (THz) waves, characterized by their unique spectral fingerprinting capabilities and non-destructive properties, have emerged as a compelling platform for advanced biochemical sensing. This review outlines the evolution of THz biochemical sensing over the past two decades, tracing its progression from passive identification toward intelligent perception. We structure this technological trajectory around four core themes: sensitivity enhancement, specific recognition, multi-target visualization, and system intelligence. We first evaluate the fundamental limitations of direct detection techniques, such as THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Building on this, we examine how metamaterial-assisted architectures utilize high-quality-factor resonances to achieve trace-level detection, pushing the limits of detection (LOD) down to the ng/mL or even pg/mL scale, and how surface chemical functionalization provides a molecular lock mechanism for selective targeting in complex samples. Furthermore, we highlight the paradigm shift from single-point spectral measurements to spatially resolved multi-target imaging using pixelated metasurfaces. Finally, the review addresses emerging directions, including dynamically tunable intelligent metasurfaces, multimodal on-chip integration platforms, and the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in inverse design and data interpretation, which achieves classification accuracies exceeding 95% even in complex matrices. By synthesizing these developments, this review provides a comprehensive perspective on the future trajectory of THz sensing technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Terahertz Metamaterial Optics, Devices, and Applications)
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