A Metasurfaces Review: Definitions and Applications

• Main Authors: Syed S. Bukhari, J(Yiannis) Vardaxoglou, William Whittow
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: metasurface; frequency selective surface; FSS; metamaterial; review
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/13/2727

This paper is a critical review of metasurfaces, which are planar metamaterials. Metamaterials offer bespoke electromagnetic applications and novel properties which are not found in naturally occurring materials. However, owing to their 3D-nature and resonant characteristics, they suffer from manufacturing complexity, losses and are highly dispersive. The 2-dimensional nature of metasurfaces allows ease of fabrication and integration into devices. The phase discontinuity across the metasurface offers anomalous refraction, thereby conserving the good metamaterial properties while still offering the low-loss characteristics. The paper discusses salient features and applications of metasurfaces; wavefront shaping; phase jumps; non-linear metasurfaces; and their use as frequency selective surfaces (FSS).