Metamaterials

Due to their structure, metamaterials have allowed arbitrary wave manipulation, and open up a possibility to design structures that are extremely sensitive to minute changes of the parameters in their environment, which is a great potential for development of very sensitive sensors. Therefore, we investigate both electromagnetic and acoustic metamaterials with the ultimate goal to develop advanced sensors and actuators for agri-food and environmental applications.

Electromagnetic metamaterials

Metasurfaces recently came into the focus since they are a two-dimensional alternative, that have all features of metamaterials, but significantly simpler fabrication. Due to the size of bioanalytes and the fact that the spectral fingerprints of the biomolecules are mostly related to the visible and infra-red region, we focus our research to the optical metasurfaces to be applied as transducers in the detection of various bioanalytes and biomolecules.

Acoustic metamaterials

We investigate various analogs to electromagnetic metamaterial phenomena, with specific interest in acoustic spoof surface plasmons, distinct surface waves supported at the interface between fluid and rigid corrugated surface. Corrugations represent metamaterial unit cells, and their appropriate design can be employed to control waves behavior and to realize various functional devices.
Based on this, we develop acoustic spoof surface plasmon devices, that can control acoustic pressure distribution and consequently be used in actuating applications such as irrigation systems. We also employ the tremendous sensitivity of the surface waves to the parameters of the surrounding fluid, to develop acoustic gas sensors, which allow detection of the composition of gas mixtures.

Projects:

NOCTURNO – Non-Conventional Wave Propagation for Future Sensing and Actuating Technologies, GA 777714, H2020-RISE-2017