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

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

doi:10.1515/nanoph-2023-0645

Nanophotonics (Jan 2024)

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

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

Affiliations

Chen Kai: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Song Wenju: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Li Zhaolin: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Wang Zihao: Institute of Novel Semiconductors, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Ma Junqing: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Wang Xinjie: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Sun Tao: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Guo Qinglei: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Shi Yanpeng: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Qin Wei-Dong: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Song Aimin: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
Chen Hou-Tong: Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
Zhang Yifei: Shandong Technology Center of Nanodevices and Integration, School of Integrated Circuits,Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0645
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 12
pp. 2101 – 2105

Abstract

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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.

Published in Nanophotonics

ISSN: 2192-8606 (Print); 2192-8614 (Online)
Publisher: De Gruyter
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: https://www.degruyter.com/journal/key/nanoph/html#submit

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