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Antennas, Metamaterials and Metasurfaces for Advanced Sensing Applications

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A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 27 July 2026 | Viewed by 7558

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Guowen Ding

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Guest Editor

1. Research Center of Applied Electromagnetics, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
2. School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: antenna design; metamaterials; metasurfaces

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the latest developments in antennas, metamaterials, and metasurfaces for advanced sensing applications. The use of these technologies in sensing systems has expanded rapidly due to their unique properties and capabilities. This includes their ability to manipulate electromagnetic waves, enhance sensitivity, and enable miniaturization and multifunctionality. Contributions that explore novel designs, fabrication techniques, and integration strategies for antennas, metamaterials, and metasurfaces, as well as their applications in sensing technologies, are highly encouraged. This Special Issue aims to bring together researchers from academia and industry to share their insights and advances in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Guowen Ding
Guest Editor

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Keywords

antenna design
metamaterials
metasurfaces
sensing technologies
wireless communications
environmental monitoring
healthcare applications
smart city infrastructure
signal processing
electromagnetic theory

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 17489 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Resonant Metamaterial Absorber for Electromagnetic Absorption in S-, C-, X-, and Ku- Bands

by Iftikhar Ud Din, Daud Khan, Sarosh Ahmad and Tayeb A. Denidni

Sensors 2026, 26(10), 3113; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26103113 - 14 May 2026

Viewed by 430

Abstract

This work introduces a compact multi-resonant metamaterial absorber designed to achieve efficient electromagnetic absorption over several microwave frequency bands. The proposed configuration is based on a hybrid resonator arrangement that promotes strong electromagnetic interaction and enables multiple resonant modes within a single unit cell. Consequently, six distinct absorption peaks are obtained at 2.4, 5.21, 6.88, 9.77, 12.61, and 14.99 GHz, covering S-, C-, X-, and Ku-band applications. The absorber exhibits high absorption performance, exceeding 97% across most operating frequencies and slightly lower value is observed of 91.13% at 12.61 GHz, which indicates effective impedance matching with free space and efficient energy dissipation mechanisms. The absorption characteristics are further examined through surface current distributions, electric field confinement, and effective medium analysis, demonstrating that the multi-band response originates from the interaction of multiple resonant elements and intrinsic material losses. Moreover, the proposed structure maintains stable performance for different polarization angles and oblique wave incidence, confirming its polarization-insensitive and angularly stable behavior. To validate the design, a prototype is fabricated and experimentally characterized using a free-space measurement setup, showing close agreement with the simulated results. The compact geometry, low fabrication cost, and scalability of the proposed absorber make it a promising candidate for applications such as electromagnetic interference mitigation, radar cross-section reduction, and modern wireless communication systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antennas, Metamaterials and Metasurfaces for Advanced Sensing Applications)

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16 pages, 11246 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Sensing Enabled by Multi-Resonant QBIC-EIT and SP-BIC in Pyramidal LiNbO₃ Metasurfaces

by Changqing Zhong, Wei Zou, Jiangtao Lei, Yun Shen, Jing Chen, Lujun Hong and Tianjing Guo

Sensors 2026, 26(9), 2632; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26092632 - 24 Apr 2026

Viewed by 436

Abstract

In optical sensing, electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and bound states in the continuum (BIC) substantially enhance light–matter interactions by leveraging high-Q resonances. This study theoretically demonstrates dual-resonance phenomena—namely, a quasi-symmetry-protected BIC (SP-BIC) and a quasi-BIC-induced EIT-like (QBIC-EIT) resonance—using a dielectric metasurface composed of pyramid-shaped lithium niobate nanoarrays operating in the near-infrared. The QBIC-EIT transmission window originates from the interference between surface lattice modes and toroidal dipole modes, triggered by symmetry breaking of the BIC state. Due to the absence of C_4v rotational symmetry in the pyramidal unit cells, the metasurface exhibits pronounced polarization-dependent responses: Under x-polarized incidence, a single quasi-SP-BIC resonance appears; under y-polarization, dual quasi-SP-BIC resonances along with a distinct QBIC-EIT resonance are observed. Both the high-Q quasi-SP-BIC resonance and the EIT-like window show strong sensitivity to changes in the ambient refractive index (RI). Specifically, the EIT-like window achieves a sensitivity of 404.9 nm/RIU, while the quasi-SP-BIC resonance delivers an exceptional sensitivity of 887.7 nm/RIU, confirming the metasurface’s performance as a high-sensitivity RI sensor. These findings establish a multi-band detection platform for advanced RI sensing and contribute to the development of high-performance metasurface-based optical sensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antennas, Metamaterials and Metasurfaces for Advanced Sensing Applications)

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12 pages, 1406 KB

Open AccessArticle

Switchable THz Bi-Functional Device for Absorption and Dual-Band Linear-to-Circular Polarization Conversion Based on Vanadium Dioxide–Graphene

by Yiqu Wang, Haohan Xie, Rong Liu and Jun Dong

Sensors 2025, 25(12), 3644; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25123644 - 10 Jun 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1242

Abstract

This academic paper proposes a terahertz (THz) device featuring dynamic adjustability. This device relies on composite metamaterials made of graphene and vanadium dioxide (VO₂). By integrating the electrically adjustable traits of graphene with the phase transition attributes of VO₂, the suggested metamaterial device can achieve both broadband absorption and dual-band linear-to-circular polarization conversion (LCPC) in the terahertz frequency range. When VO₂ is in its metallic state and the Fermi level of graphene is set to zero electron volts (eV), the device shows remarkable broadband absorption. Specifically, it attains an absorption rate exceeding 90% within the frequency span of 2.28–3.73 terahertz (THz). Moreover, the device displays notable polarization insensitivity and high resistance to changes in the incident angle. Conversely, when VO₂ shifts to its insulating state and the Fermi level of graphene stays at 0 eV, the device operates as a highly effective polarization converter. It attains the best dual-band linear-to-circular polarization conversion within the frequency ranges of 4.31–5.82 THz and 6.77–7.93 THz. Following the alteration of the Fermi level of graphene, the device demonstrated outstanding adjustability. The designed multi-functional device features a simple structure and holds significant application potential in terahertz technologies, including cloaking technology, reflectors, and spatial modulators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antennas, Metamaterials and Metasurfaces for Advanced Sensing Applications)

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13 pages, 3752 KB

Open AccessArticle

Design of a Compact Dual-Band and Dual-Mode Wearable Antenna for WBAN Applications

by Wei Zhang, Wenran Li, Xiaoyu Feng, Chen Zhao, Yan Li and Xiaoyi Liao

Sensors 2025, 25(11), 3361; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25113361 - 27 May 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1660

Abstract

This paper presents a novel design of a compact dual-band dual-mode wearable antenna. The antenna is fed through a single coaxial feed probe, which excites TM₀₁ and TM₁₁ modes at 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz, respectively. These modes exhibit distinct radiation characteristics. The omnidirectional TM₀₁ mode at 2.45 GHz is suitable for on-body communication, while the directional TM₁₁ mode at 5.8 GHz is more appropriate for off-body communication. The antenna prototype was fabricated and measured. The measured performance is consistent with the simulations. Additionally, further simulations and measurements were conducted to verify the interactions between the proposed antenna and the human body. The results demonstrate that the proposed antenna exhibits significant potential as a candidate for wireless body area network (WBAN) communications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antennas, Metamaterials and Metasurfaces for Advanced Sensing Applications)

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17 pages, 4791 KB

Open AccessArticle

Photoreconfigurable Metasurface for Independent Full-Space Control of Terahertz Waves

by Zhengxuan Jiang, Guowen Ding, Xinyao Luo and Shenyun Wang

Sensors 2025, 25(1), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25010119 - 27 Dec 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2552

Abstract

We present a novel photoreconfigurable metasurface designed for independent and efficient control of electromagnetic waves with identical incident polarization and frequency across the entire spatial domain. The proposed metasurface features a three-layer architecture: a top layer incorporating a gold circular split ring resonator (CSRR) filled with perovskite material and dual C-shaped perovskite resonators; a middle layer of polyimide dielectric; and a bottom layer comprising a perovskite substrate with an oppositely oriented circular split ring resonator filled with gold. By modulating the intensity of a laser beam, we achieve autonomous manipulation of incident circularly polarized terahertz waves in both transmission and reflection modes. Simulation results demonstrate that the metasurface achieves a cross-polarized transmission coefficient of 0.82 without laser illumination and a co-polarization reflection coefficient of 0.8 under laser illumination. Leveraging the geometric phase principle, adjustments to the rotational orientation of the reverse split ring and dual C-shaped perovskite structures enable independent control of transmission and reflection phases. Furthermore, the proposed metasurface induces a +1 order orbital angular momentum in transmission and +2 order in reflection, facilitating beam deflection through metasurface convolution principles. Imaging using metasurface digital imaging technology showcases patterns “NUIST” in reflection and “LOONG” in transmission, illustrating the metasurface design principles via the proposed metasurface. The proposed metasurface’s capability for full-space control and reconfigurability presents promising applications in advanced imaging systems, dynamic beam steering, and tunable terahertz devices, highlighting its potential for future technological advancements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antennas, Metamaterials and Metasurfaces for Advanced Sensing Applications)

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