Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin.

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Liquid-based electromagnetic wave absorbing metamaterials

Siyuan Zhang1, Weiqiang Wang2, Zhenxing Yue3, Seemab Hussnain1, Haibo Zeng1, Weijin Li1   

  1. 1 MIIT Key Laboratory of Advanced Display Materials and Devices & Materials Physical and Chemical Research and Practice Center, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu Province, China;
    2 School of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu Province, China;
    3 State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • Received:2026-06-29 Revised:2026-09-26 Accepted:2026-09-30
  • Contact: Weiqiang Wang, Haibo Zeng, Weijin Li E-mail:wangweiqiang@njust.edu.cn;zeng.haibo@njust.edu.cn;wjli@njust.edu.cn

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Abstract: Conventional solid-state metamaterial absorbers (MMAs) typically suffer from limited optical transparency, high mass density, and static absorption performance. In contrast, liquid materials have garnered significant interest for constructing liquid-based MMAs (LbMMAs) due to their inherent optical transparency, low density, dynamic reconfigurability, and tunable absorption performance. In this review, we present a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art developments in LbMMAs, spanning from fundamental physical theories to practical challenges and forward-looking perspectives. Typically, the mainstream theories and corresponding physical mechanisms is introduced to elaborate the high-efficiency electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption of LbMMAs; subsequently, diverse categories of LbMMAs, including water-based, ionic liquid-based, liquid metal-based, aqueous solution-based, and multi liquid-based absorbers are discussed with the focus on their superior performances, structural configurations, tunable absorption strategies, and versatile application scenarios; last but not the least, the key challenges and feasible solutions for the future development of LbMMAs are highlighted and prospected, respectively.

Key words: Liquid-based metamaterial absorber, Electromagnetic wave absorption, Broadband absorption, Ionic liquid, Liquid metal