META-MATERIALS

Abstract

Meta-material is a word made of two parts; ‘meta’ meaning beyond and ‘materials’. They are materials engineered to exhibit properties which are not found in nature. They are made from assemblies of multiple elements fashioned from composite materials such as metals and plastics. The structural elements of these materials are arranged in repeating as well as non-repeating patterns. Meta-materials derive their properties from the base metal i.e., chemical composition as well as from their newly designed structures. Their precise shape, geometry, size, arrangement and orientation give them their smart properties capable of manipulating, absorbing, enhancing as well as bending waves ranging from acoustics to electromagnetic waves to achieve benefits that go beyond what is possible with conventional materials. Metamaterial research is an interdisciplinary field and involves various engineering domains such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, material science, solid state physics and more. Potential applications of metamaterials are diverse and include optical fibres, medical equipment, sensors as well as military operations and aerospace applications.