Tunable Metasurface Absorbers

该项目的目的是开发可调谐的准表面，可以与光伏设备、探测器和传感器集成，以提高性能。具体地说，将研究用于电磁设备在红外和太赫兹波段的高效和波段选择性吸收的可调谐超材料。特别是研究基于辐射的能量传递和回收。我们将为科学研究提供高质量的培训，确保学生在电磁超材料、器件制造、光伏和材料物理方面掌握技能。这些技能可以转化为令人兴奋的应用机会，包括可再生能源系统开发和光电设备的超材料设计。这些应用程序是该署工业资助项目的一部分，而这项项目是对这些工作的补充。这个项目的成果和获得的技能可以通过与工业合作伙伴的合作进一步发展。有效地吸收光子是决定光伏发电机性能的基本第一步。传统上，材料的可用性限制了吸收的效率，并决定了特定的谱带。可以使用可以与光伏设备集成的亚表面来克服对特定材料吸收的依赖，以实现对非传统频段中的电磁波的吸收，以补充当前的设备。在这项研究中，具有可调吸收带的完美吸收体将在从微波到光子波段的广泛应用中得到实现。虽然重点将放在光伏技术上，但也将探索在探测器和传感器中的更广泛应用。

The aim of this project is to develop tunable metasurfaces that can be integrated with photovoltaic devices, detectors and sensors for enhanced performance. Specifically, tunable metamaterials for efficient and band selective absorption of electromagnetic devices in infrared and terahertz bands will be researched. A particular interest is to research radiation-based energy transfer and recovery.We will provide high-quality training for conducting scientific research to ensure the student develop skills in electromagnetic metamaterials, device fabrication, photovoltaics, and material physics. The skills can be translated into exciting opportunities in applications including renewable energy system development and metamaterial design for optoelectronic devices. These applications are part of the industrially funded projects at the department, and this project is complementary to these efforts. Outcomes of this project and the obtained skills can be further developed in collaboration with the industrial partners.Efficient absorption of photons is a fundamental first step that sets the performance of photovoltaic generators. Conventionally, the availability of materials restricts the efficiency of absorption and determines the specific bands. Reliance of specific materials for absorption can be overcome using metasurfaces that can be integrated with photovoltaic devices to enable absorption of electromagnetic waves in unconventional bands to complement the current devices. In this research, perfect absorbers with tunable absorption bands will be realised for various applications in a wide spectrum spanning from microwave to photonic bands. Whilst the particular focus will be on photovoltaics, wider applications in detectors and sensors will also be explored.