UK Metamaterials Network

超材料是一种人造材料，具有自然界中发现的特性之外的特性，可以解锁传统方法无法获得的材料和设备功能。它们的电磁、声学或机械行为不是简单地由其组成元素的平均属性决定的，而是由其组成元素的几何、排列、排列、材料成分、形状、大小和密度的精确控制产生的。在应用方面，超材料在从能源到信息通信技术、国防与安全、航空航天和医疗保健等重要领域具有惊人的潜力。许多市场研究预测未来十年将有非常显著的增长，例如，到2030年，超材料设备市场预计将达到超过100亿美元的价值（Lux research 2019）。“超材料”主题本质上是跨学科的，涵盖了先进材料（等离子体、活性材料、射频、高指数对比、二维材料、相变材料、透明导电氧化物、软材料）、理论物理、量子物理、化学、生物学、工程（机械和电气）、声学、计算机科学（如人工智能、高性能计算）和机器人技术。从历史上看，英国一直是该领域的全球领导者，其根源在于第二次世界大战期间雷达工程师的工作，并通过我们一些最杰出的学者的研究重新焕发活力，包括约翰·彭德里爵士教授。然而，如今，它有落在潮流后面的风险。例如，中国政府资助建设了世界上第一个大型超材料制造设施，年生产超材料板材10万平方米，项目涉及航天、通信、卫星和军事等领域。超材料研究挑战的广度是巨大的，从理论，制造，实验，并需要大规模制造和现场测试的专业知识才能成功开发。我们认为，研究小组的孤立和缺乏交流和发展思想的平台目前阻碍了英国利用我们大学、行业和政府机构中存在的跨学科潜力。最重要的是发展这些社区之间的互动和流动性，以实现知识转移、创新，并更好地了解障碍和机会。该网络将提供的干预将确保英国不会落后于我们的国际竞争对手。通过网络的特别兴趣小组、论坛、全国专题讨论会和其他社区加强战略，加强合作将有助于解决关键的跨学科挑战，并培养学术界和工业界所需的人才管道。因此，我们将看到超材料主题的研究能力的增加，从而收获该领域对英国经济和社会的影响机会。该网络广泛推广超材料技术的好处（例如，案例研究、白皮书等），便利获得超材料专家和设施（通过在线数据库），并在适当的活动（例如，工业-学术研讨会）上与最终用户进行更密切的互动，将有助于增加对超材料研究的外部投资。最终，该网络将提供一个发现-创新-企业循环的刺激，以满足繁荣和社会，国防和安全的预期结果。

Metamaterials are artificial materials with characteristics beyond those found in nature that unlock routes to material and device functionalities not available using conventional approaches. Their electromagnetic, acoustic or mechanical behaviour is not simply dictated by averaging out the properties of their constituent elements, but emerge from the precise control of geometry, arrangement, alignment, material composition, shape, size and density of their constituent elements. In terms of applications, metamaterials have phenomenal potential, in important areas, from energy to ICT, defence & security, aerospace, and healthcare. Numerous market research studies predict very significant growth over the next decade, for example, by 2030 the metamaterial device market is expected to reach a value of over $10bn (Lux Research 2019). The 'Metamaterials' topic is inherently interdisciplinary, spanning advanced materials (plasmonics, active materials, RF, high index contrast, 2D materials, phase change materials, transparent conductive oxides, soft materials), theoretical physics, quantum physics, chemistry, biology, engineering (mechanical and electrical), acoustics, computer sciences (e.g. artificial intelligence, high performance computing), and robotics. Historically, the UK has been a global leader in the field, with its roots in the work of radar engineers in the 2nd World War, and being reinvigorated by the research of some of our most eminent academics, including Professor Sir John Pendry. However today, it risks falling behind the curve. As a specific example, the Chinese government has funded the development of the world's first large-scale metamaterial fabrication facility, which has capacity to produce 100,000 m2 of metamaterial plates annually, with projects relating to aerospace, communication, satellite and military applications. The breadth of metamaterial research challenges is huge, from theory, fabrication, experiment, and requiring expertise in large-scale manufacturing and field testing for successful exploitation. We believe that the isolation of research groups and lack of platforms to exchange and develop ideas currently inhibits the UK's access to the interdisciplinary potential existing within our universities, industries, and governmental agencies. It is of the utmost importance to develop interactions and mobility between these communities, to enable knowledge transfer, innovation, and a greater understanding of the barriers and opportunities.The intervention that this Network will provide will ensure that the UK does not lag our international competitors. Via the Network's Special Interest Groups, Forums, National Symposia and other community-strengthening strategies, the enhanced collaboration will help resolve key interdisciplinary challenges and foster the required talent pipeline across academia and industry. As a result we will see an increase in research power for the metamaterials theme, and therefore reaping the impact opportunities of this area for UK economy and society. The Network's extensive promotion of the benefits of metamaterials technology (e.g., case studies, white papers etc), facilitation of access to metamaterial experts and facilities (through the online database) and closer interactions with end-users at appropriate events (e.g. industry-academia workshops) will help grow external investment in metamaterials research. Ultimately the Network will provide the stimulation of a discovery-innovation-enterprise cycle to meet desired outcomes for prosperity and consequentially, society, defence, and security.