Search Results (74)

Terahertz metamaterial dual-band absorbers are used for multi-target detection and high-sensitivity sensing in complex environments by enhancing information that reflects differences in the measured substances. Traditional design processes are complex and time-consuming. Machine learning-based methods, such as neural networks and deep learning, require a large number of simulations to gather training samples. Existing design methods based on single-objective optimization often result in uneven multi-objective optimization, which restricts practical applications. In this study, we developed a metamaterial absorber featuring a circular split-ring resonator with four gaps nested in a “卍” structure and used the Multi-Objective Firefly Algorithm based on Multiple Cooperative Strategies to achieve fast optimization of the absorber’s structural parameters. A comparison revealed that our approach requires fewer iterations than the Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization and reduces design time by nearly half. The absorber designed using this method exhibited two resonant peaks at 0.607 THz and 0.936 THz, with absorptivity exceeding 99%, indicating near-perfect absorption and quality factors of 31.42 and 30.08, respectively. Additionally, we validated the absorber’s wave-absorbing mechanism by applying impedance-matching theory. Finally, we elucidated the resonance-peak formation mechanism of the absorber based on the surface current and electric-field distribution at the resonance frequencies. These results confirmed that the proposed dual-band metamaterial absorber design is efficient, representing a significant step toward the development of metamaterial devices. Full article

This work presents a theoretical and numerical investigation of a switchable tri-functional terahertz metamaterial incorporating vanadium dioxide (VO₂) and photosensitive silicon. The selective absorption, broadband linear-to-linear polarization conversion, and dual-band asymmetric transmission (AT) can be realized by utilizing the phase transition characteristic of VO₂. When VO₂ behaves as a metal, the proposed metamaterial functions as a selective perfect absorber for x-polarized waves at 2.84 THz, while exhibiting near-zero absorption for y-polarized waves. When VO₂ is in its insulating state, the proposed metamaterial acts as a linear polarization converter, achieving a polarization conversion ratio exceeding 99% within the frequency range of 1.07 to 4.29 THz. Meanwhile, a dual-band AT effect can be simultaneously realized associated with the broadband near-perfect polarization conversion. Furthermore, the polarization conversion efficiency and AT can be actively modulated by adjusting the conductivity of the photosensitive silicon, offering a novel approach for realizing multifunctional terahertz devices. Full article

IR-780 is a heptamethine cyanine dye that exhibits strong absorbance in the near-infrared region. Herein, we report IR-780 dye as a dual sensor for chromogenic cyanide detection and azide’s fluorogenic sensing in acetonitrile. Cyanide and hydroxide cause instant, dramatic color changes in the dye solution from green to yellow and dramatic spectral changes in the UV-Vis spectrum. The interaction of cyanide and hydroxide with the dye caused a dramatic decrease in the intensity of the strong absorption band at 780 nm and a concomitant band appearance at 435 nm. Other monovalent ions, including fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, thiocyanate, acetate, and dihydrogen arsenate, caused no significant color or spectral changes. UV-Vis studies showed that the IR-780 dye is sensitive and selective to both ions. The detection limits for cyanide and azide are 0.39 µM and 0.50 µM, respectively. Interestingly, the IR-780 dye exhibited strong fluorescence at 535nm upon interaction with azide, while its initial emission at 809 nm was quenched. Both UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy accomplished the detection of cyanide and azide using IR-780. Furthermore, the sensor’s effectiveness in fluorescence imaging of intracellular CN⁻ ions is demonstrated in live HeLa cells. Full article

Spectrally selective infrared absorbers play a pivotal role in enabling optoelectronic applications such as infrared detection, thermal imaging, and photothermal conversion. In this paper, a dual-band wide-spectrum infrared selective absorber based on a metal–dielectric multilayer structure is designed. Through optimized design, the absorptance of the absorber reaches the peak values of 0.87 and 1.0 in the target bands (3–5 μm and 8–14 μm), while maintaining a low absorptance of about 0.2 in the non-working bands of 5–8 μm, with excellent spectral selectivity. By analyzing the Poynting vector and loss distribution, the synergistic mechanism of the ultra-thin metal localized enhancement effect, impedance matching, and intrinsic absorption of the material is revealed. This structure exhibits good polarization-insensitive characteristics and angle robustness within a large incident angle range, showing strong adaptability to complex optical field environments. Moreover, the proposed planarized structure design is compatible with standard fabrication processes and has good scalability, which can be applied to other electromagnetic wave bands. This research provides new design ideas and technical solutions for advanced optoelectronic applications such as radiation cooling, infrared stealth, and thermal radiation regulation. Full article

This paper proposes a switchable and tunable terahertz metamaterial absorber utilizing a graphene-VO₂ layered structure. The design employs reconfigurable seven-layer architecture from top to bottom as (topaz/VO₂/topaz/Si/graphene/topaz/Au). CST software 2018 was used to simulate the absorption properties of terahertz waves (0–14 THz). The proposed metamaterial exhibits dual functionalities depending on the VO₂ phase state. In the insulating state, the design achieves a tri-band response with distinct peaks at 3.12 THz, 5.65 THz, and 7.24 THz. Conversely, the VO₂’s conducting state enables ultra-broadband absorption from 2.52 THz to 11.62 THz. Extensive simulations were conducted to demonstrate the tunability of absorption: Simulated absorption spectra were obtained for broadband and multi-band states. Electric field distributions were analyzed at resonance frequencies for both conducting and insulating states. The impact was studied of VO₂ conductivity, loss tangent, and graphene’s chemical potential on absorption. The influence was investigated of topaz layer thickness on the absorption spectrum. Absorption behavior was examined of VO₂ under different states and layer configurations. Variations were analyzed of absorption spectra with frequency, polarization angle, and incident angle. The proposed design used for the detection of cervical and breast cancer detection and the sensitivity is about is 0.2489 THz/RIU. The proposed design holds significant promise for real-world applications due to its reconfigurability. This tunability allows for tailoring absorption properties across a broad terahertz range, making it suitable for advanced devices like filters, modulators, and perfect absorbers. Full article

This study proposes a frequency-selective absorber (FSA) with dual passbands and wide-angle oblique incidence. The design consists of a circuit analog (CA) sheet and a dual-bandpass frequency selective surface (FSS) sheet, both embedded in dielectric slabs separated by a foam spacer. The CA sheet unit cell is based on a tripole loaded with multiple shorted transmission lines and lumped resistors. In this way, the performance of the CA sheet is equivalent to a resistive sheet in a low-frequency band and a transparent sheet in two high-frequency bands. By comprehensively designing the CA sheet and the dual-bandpass FSS sheet, we created an FSA structure that exhibits microwave absorption in the band from 2.6 GHz to 9.2 GHz with a reflectivity lower than −10 dB. It also possesses transmission in the 12.2–15.1 GHz and 30.6–31.5 GHz bands, with a transmittance greater than −3 dB in both. In addition, the FSA structure provides a stable transmission response of up to 60° of oblique incidence and absorption performance of up to 45° of oblique incidence in TE and TM polarization. A 400 × 400 mm flat FSA sample was fabricated, was measured, and is discussed. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results, proving that the proposed FSA design holds great potential for applications in dual-frequency low-scattering radomes with high curvature and multi-directional electromagnetic interference suppression. Full article

The dynamically triple-tunable dual-band metamaterial absorber that can be electrically, thermally, and magnetically controlled is proposed in this paper. The absorber is composed of bulk Dirac Semimetal (BDS), SiO₂, and InSb layers. The physical absorption mechanism can be analyzed theoretically by the equivalent circuit model (ECM) and electric field intensity distributions at absorption peaks. In the absence of applied magnetic field, based on the bright–bright coupling effect, the average absorption rate of dual-band absorber can reach 99.4% when the Fermi energy of the BDS is 0.13 eV and the temperature of the InSb is 475 K. When the applied magnetic field is along the X axis, the absorption frequencies and rates of dual-band absorber can be electrically tuned by adjusting the BDS Fermi energy and thermally and magnetically controlled by adjusting the InSb temperature and magnetic field. Furthermore, the impacts of parameters in dual-band absorbers and the application prospects of the dual-band absorber model as a refractive index sensor are further discussed. This work provides a theoretical basis for the designs of triple-tunable absorbers and sensors. Full article

In this paper, we propose a novel dual-band metasurface absorber with a high frequency ratio based on graphene. By carefully designing a centrally symmetrical graphene pattern and positioning it on a glass medium, while utilizing ITO as a ground, the metasurface absorber achieves remarkable high frequency ratio microwave absorption. Specifically, this metasurface absorber exhibits two distinct resonance points at 3.7 GHz and 14 GHz, with an impressive frequency ratio over 3.5. It achieves over 90% absorption efficiency in the frequency ranges of 3.5–4.5 GHz and 13.5–14.5 GHz, highlighting its capability to effectively absorb microwaves across widely spaced frequency bands. Furthermore, the metasurface absorber demonstrates optical transparency and polarization insensitivity, adding to its versatility and potential applications. The measured results of the fabricated prototype validate its design and potential for practical use. Full article

Multi-band circular dichroism (CD) response and tunability on the chiral metasurface are crucial for this device’s applications in sensing and detection. This work proposes a dual-band CD Au-CaF₂-Au dimer elliptical metasurface absorber, where chiroptical sensing is realized by breaking the geometric symmetry between two ellipses. The proposed metasurface can achieve high CD values of 0.8 and −0.74 for the dual-band within the 3–5 μm region, and the CD values can be manipulated by independently adjusting the geometric parameters of the metasurface. Furthermore, a slotted nanocircuit is introduced onto the metasurface to enhance its tunability by manipulating the geometry parameter in the design process, and the related mechanism is explained using an equivalent circuit model. The simulation of the sensing model revealed that the slotted nanocircuit enhances the sensor’s tunability and significantly improves its bandwidth and sensitivity, achieving peak enhancements at approximately 753 nm and 1311 nm/RIU, respectively. Due to the strong dual-band positive (and negative) responses of the CD values, flexible wavelength tunability, and nonlinear sensitivity enhancement, this design provides a new approach for the development and application of mid-infrared chiroptical devices. Full article

We report a novel dual-band barrier infrared detector (DBIRD) design using InAs/GaSb type-II superlattices (T2SLs). The DBIRD structure consists of back-to-back barrier diodes: a “blue channel” (BC) diode which has an nBp architecture, an n-type layer of a larger bandgap for absorbing the blue band infrared/barrier/p-type layer, and a “red channel” (RC) diode which has a pBn architecture, a p-type layer of a smaller bandgap for absorbing the red band infrared/barrier/n-type layer. Each has a unipolar barrier using a T2SL lattice matched to a GaSb substrate to impede the flow of majority carriers from the absorbing layer. Each channel in the DBIRD can be independently accessed with a low bias voltage as is preferable for high-speed thermal imaging. The device modeling of DBIRDs and simulation results of the current–voltage characteristics under dark and illuminated conditions are also presented. They predict that the dual-band operation of the DBIRD will produce low dark currents and 45–56% quantum efficiencies for the in-band photons in the BC with ${\lambda }_c$ = 5.58 μm, and a nearly constant 32% in the RC with ${\lambda }_c$ = 8.05 μm. The spectral quantum efficiency of the BC for 500 K blackbody radiation is approximately 50% over the range of $\lambda$ = 3–4.7 μm, while that of the RC has a peak of 42% at 5.9 μm. The DBIRD may provide improved high-speed dual-band imaging in comparison with NBn dual-band detectors. Full article

Infrared multispectral imaging technology can achieve the long-distance, wide-ranging and fast detection of target gas, and has been widely used in the fields of dangerous-gas detection and environmental monitoring. However, due to the difficulty in acquiring background radiation as well as atmospheric disturbance and noise interference in the detection process, the quantitative detection of gas concentration has become a difficult problem to solve. Therefore, this paper proposes an inversion method for gas column concentration based on infrared multispectral imaging technology. Firstly, infrared background radiation images of the non-target gas absorption spectrum band were collected and converted into background radiation images of the target gas absorption spectrum band according to the dual-channel mapping relationship. Then, combined with the gas radiation images of the target gas absorption spectrum band, the column concentration distribution of the gas was obtained by using the measured calibration relationship between absorbance and column concentration. Experiments of gas detection in different environments were carried out, and the column concentration distribution of the target gas was inverted using this method; the results showed that the average relative error of the inversion of the gas column concentration was 4.84%, which enables the quantitative detection of gas column concentration in a complex environment. Full article

In this study, the design of a dual-band terahertz absorber, previously published by Lu et al. (Symmetry 2018, 10, 293), was re-simulated. Our findings showed significantly different absorption results from those published in the article. A detailed analysis was conducted to explain this discrepancy, which was attributed to the reflection of an unaccounted orthogonal component of the waves from the design, rather than absorption. The metasurface design has two resonances at 4.48 THz and 4.76 THz, respectively. It was reported that at these frequencies, the structure achieved absorption of 98.6% and 98.5%, respectively. However, in our results, it was found that at the second resonance (4.76 THz), the structure acted as a strong cross-polarization converter, reflecting a significant amount of incident energy in the cross-polarization component of the reflected wave. When this component is considered in the reflection coefficient calculations, the absorption reduces to 41% (from 98.5%), which is not an acceptable level for an absorber. In addition, the structure was simulated for both lossy and lossless (FR4) substrate cases to understand the effect of substrate losses. The results showed that the absorption response significantly deteriorates at the first resonance (4.48 THz) in the case of a lossy FR4 substrate. Full article

We report a fusedly deposited frequency-selective composite (FD-FSCs), fabricated with a dual-nozzle 3D printer using a conductive carbon black (CB) polylactic acid (PLA) composite filament and a pure PLA polymer filament. The square frequency-selective pattern was constructed by the conductive CB/PLA nanocomposite, and the apertures of the pattern were filled with the pure dielectric PLA material, which allows the FD-FSC to maintain one single plane, even under bending, and also affects the resonating frequency due to the characteristic impedance of PLA (ε_r′ ≈ 2.0). The number of the deposition layer and the printing direction were observed to affect electrical conductivity, complex permittivity, and the frequency selectivity of the FD-FSCs. In addition, the FD-FSCs designed for an X-band showed partial transmission around the resonant frequency and was observed to, quite uniformly, transmit microwaves in the decibel level of −2.17~−2.83 dB in the whole X-band, unlike a metallic frequency selective surface with full transmission at the resonance frequency. FD-FSCs embedded radar absorbing structure (RAS) demonstrates an excellent microwave absorption and a wide effective bandwidth. At a thickness of 4.3 mm, the 10 dB bandwidth covered the entire X-band (8.2~12.4 GHz) range of 4.2 GHz. Therefore, the proposed FD-FSCs fabricated by dual-nozzle 3D printing can be an impedance modifier to expand the design space and the application of radar absorbing materials and structures. Full article

In this paper, we propose an optically transparent dual-band metamaterial absorber (MMA) that uses Ag nanowire screen-printed fractal structures. The proposed MMA exhibits near-perfect absorption in the C- and K-bands. This dual-band absorption property is achieved through two inductive–capacitive (L-C) resonances located at 6.45 and 21.14 GHz, which are generated by the second-order fractal structures. We analyzed the microwave absorbing mechanisms through the distributions of the surface current and electromagnetic field on the top and bottom layers. The MMA demonstrates an optical transmittance of 63.1% at a wavelength of 550 nm. This high optical transmittance is attained by screen printing transparent Ag nanowire ink onto a transparent PET substrate. Since screen printing is a simple and low-cost fabrication method, the proposed MMA offers the advantages of being low cost while having the properties of optical transparency and effective dual-band absorption. Consequently, it holds great potential for the radar stealth application of C- and K-bands in that it can be attached to the windows of stealth aircraft due to its optical transparency and dual-band near-perfect absorption property. Full article

Metamaterial absorbers have been studied extensively due to their potential applications in the field of photonics. In this paper, we propose a simulation study of a polarization-angle-insensitive dual-band perfect metamaterial absorber with absorption peaks at 654 and 781 nm, respectively. By adjusting the structure parameters, dielectric thickness, and refractive index, the obtained absorber has high scalability in the visible wavelength region. To further understand the performance of the cross-structure absorber, analysis of its electric and magnetic field distribution shows that it produces two resonance modes leading to different absorption properties. In addition, the position and intensity of the absorption peaks were found to be unchanged with increasing incident polarization angle, indicating that the absorber is insensitive to the polarization of the incident light. The absorber has great flexibility and has good application potential in sensing and detection. Full article