Terahertz photonic metadevices with carbon nanomaterials

The research and development in 0.1-1.0 THz frequency tange is commercially important nowadays as it opens a wide range of applications for single electronic devices, such as wide-band telecommunications, imaging systems, wireless communications, medical imaging, bio-chemical sensing, defence and security, and environmental monitoring, to mention only a few with great impact on society and economy. However, the development of the first smart electronic systems at low THz frequencies is still in its infancy, with the technology being at the early stage, and with proposed devices being bulky and extremely expensive.

This project aims at developing a novel metamaterial platform based on carbon nanomaterials (CNM) thin-film technology for the realisation of the first fully reconfigurable THz antenna systems, for future integration in smart phones, watches, goggles, textiles and even human skin. For this purpose, the following metamaterial architectures will be targeted: antenna arrays of crosses and split ring resonators, as well as photonic crystals.

The use of graphene and other CNMs has already been proposed for THz electronics, but a technology or approach for the practical realisation of the first reconfigurable THz electronic systems is still nonexistent. In order to integrate these materials in the metamaterial structures different approaches to thin-film CNM production and processing will be used, focusing mainly on chemical vapour depositon (CVD) and liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE), and subsequent processing using the appropriate techniques for each type of CNM (e.g. wet-transfer and stamping for CVD, spin coating and spray coating for LPE). Therefore, different types of flexible substrates can also be used, from transparent plastics to textile fibres and fabrics. Several surface characterisation techniques (microscopically and spectroscopically, namely by using AFM, SEM and Raman) and physical characterisation (electrical transport measurements). Additionally, the student will gain experience in design and simulation of device components in collaboration with the TeraHertz Biomedicine Laboratory (ITMO University, Russia) and device testing with the company Tydex – the global leaders in research and production of THz photonics components.

The multidisciplinarity of this project will endow the student with a number of skills related with fabrication, processing and characterisation of nanomaterials. The valuable contribution of Tydex will provide the student the opportunity to get familiarised with the industrial environment, and the cohort approach will facilitate interactions with students working in related areas.

External supervisors: Dr Mikhail Khodzitskiy (ITMO University)

Industrial partner: TYDEX