Chalcogenide phase-change material advances programmable terahertz metamaterials: a non-volatile perspective for reconfigurable intelligent surfaces

Autor: Chen Kai, Song Wenju, Li Zhaolin, Wang Zihao, Ma Junqing, Wang Xinjie, Sun Tao, Guo Qinglei, Shi Yanpeng, Qin Wei-Dong, Song Aimin, Chen Hou-Tong, Zhang Yifei
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Nanophotonics, Vol 13, Iss 12, Pp 2101-2105 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2192-8614
DOI: 10.1515/nanoph-2023-0645
Popis: Terahertz (THz) waves have gained considerable attention in the rising 6G communication due to their large bandwidth. However, the cost and power consumption become the major constraints for the commercialization of 6G THz systems as the frequency increases. Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) comprising active metasurfaces and digital controllers has been proposed for beamforming in the 6G multiple-input-multiple-output systems, showing good potential to suppress the system size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP). Currently, their controlling diodes can hardly work up to THz frequencies. Therefore, several active stimuli have been investigated as alternatives. Among them, chalcogenide phase-change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) addresses large modulation depth, picosecond switching speed, and non-volatile properties. Notably, the non-volatile GST may enable RIS systems with memory and low control power. This work briefly reviews the advances of GST-tuned THz metamaterials (MTMs), discusses the current obstacles to overcome, and gives a perspective of GST applications in the rising 6G communications.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals