Graphene-enabled electrically switchable radar-absorbing surfaces
Author
Balci O.
Polat, E.O.
Kakenov, N.
Kocabas, C.
Date
2015Source Title
Nature Communications
Print ISSN
20411723
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Volume
6
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
118
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Abstract
Radar-absorbing materials are used in stealth technologies for concealment of an object from radar detection. Resistive and/or magnetic composite materials are used to reduce the backscattered microwave signals. Inability to control electrical properties of these materials, however, hinders the realization of active camouflage systems. Here, using large-area graphene electrodes, we demonstrate active surfaces that enable electrical control of reflection, transmission and absorption of microwaves. Instead of tuning bulk material property, our strategy relies on electrostatic tuning of the charge density on an atomically thin electrode, which operates as a tunable metal in microwave frequencies. Notably, we report large-area adaptive radar-absorbing surfaces with tunable reflection suppression ratio up to 50 dB with operation voltages <5 V. Using the developed surfaces, we demonstrate various device architectures including pixelated and curved surfaces. Our results provide a significant step in realization of active camouflage systems in microwave frequencies. © 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Keywords
grapheneabsorption
alkene
electrical property
electrode
magnetic property
microwave radiation
radar
Article
electric conductivity
electric potential
electrode
electromagnetic radiation
ionic strength
microwave radiation
oxidation reduction reaction
telecommunication