Researchers from Beijing University of Technology, Harbin University and Peking University have developed a graphene-based metasurface designed for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption in high-speed aerospace applications.
Modern aircraft require materials that combine low density, flexibility, high-temperature stability, and effective EMW attenuation. To address these requirements, the research team applied a subtractive laser patterning technique to graphene@silica fabric (G@SF) synthesized via chemical vapor deposition.
This approach produced a flexible, ultrathin (0.1 mm) metasurface with tunable sheet resistance (50–5,000 Ω per square) and improved impedance matching. The resulting material maintains electromagnetic absorption stability at temperatures up to 1,000 °C (1,832 °F) and under airflow velocities of 200 m/s, exhibiting less than 1 % performance loss. In air, it retains structural integrity after heating at 600 °C for five minutes, and under vacuum, it remains stable during extended high-temperature exposure.
Integration of the metasurface into an aircraft’s thermal insulation layer achieved radar reflection reductions to −42 dB, without significant changes to overall mass or geometry. The all-inorganic composition enhances resistance to thermal degradation, mechanical stress, and erosion under high-speed flight conditions.
The method provides a scalable route for fabricating EMW-absorbing materials that combine tunable impedance, thermal resilience, and manufacturability. In addition to aerospace stealth coatings, potential applications include electromagnetic shielding for satellite payloads and high-temperature electronics. The same laser patterning strategy could be extended to millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies, relevant to future space-based sensing and communication systems.
