Dorsiventrally Bicolored Leaf‐Inspired Metamaterial Absorbers for Tailorable Electromagnetic Absorption

X Xiaohan Liu W Wenjun Cai H Huanrong Tian (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Equipment Coatings Shandong University Jinan China) Z Zidong Zhang (Key Laboratory for Liquid−Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education)) F Fushan Li Z Zixuan Liu (State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Q Qing Hou (Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University 1 , Chengdu 610064,) S Shilu Wang (Shandong Key Laboratory of Metamaterial and Electromagnetic Manipulation Technology Shandong University Jinan China) K Ke Bi J Jiaomin Li (Shandong Key Laboratory of Metamaterial and Electromagnetic Manipulation Technology Shandong University Jinan China) J Jia Su Y Yao Liu

Abstract

ABSTRACT Realizing tailorable broadband electromagnetic absorption within structurally concise architectures remains a key challenge for advanced absorber design. Inspired by dorsiventrally bicolored leaves that integrate broad‐spectrum light management with directional regulation, we propose a bioinspired hybrid metastructure in which an impedance‐graded hexagonal‐frustum absorber serves as the broadband absorption backbone, and an underlying resonant feedback layer selectively reinforces weak‐absorption frequencies in the baseline absorption spectrum. Mechanistically, the broadband absorption arises from continuous impedance transition, enhanced wave coupling, and multistage attenuation, while the reinforcement of selected frequencies is governed by the interplay of resonant feedback, material loss, and phase‐assisted reflection suppression. Experimentally, the metastructure exhibits an intrinsic X‐band absorption peak and a broadband high‐absorption platform with absorptance exceeding 80% from 18 to 40 GHz. In addition, feedback‐layer engineering enables targeted reinforcement at prescribed weak‐absorption frequencies, forming tailorable absorption windows in selected X─K‐band regions. In parallel, a genetic‐algorithm‐optimized ExtraTrees surrogate model enables rapid inverse identification of feedback‐layer geometries, and the selected candidates show good agreement with full‐wave simulations and experiments. This work establishes a bioinspired framework that integrates broadband response, targeted reinforcement, and inverse design, offering a promising route toward high‐performance, tailorable electromagnetic absorbers.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 45
Published August 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

X

Xiaohan Liu

W

Wenjun Cai

H

Huanrong Tian

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Equipment Coatings Shandong University Jinan China

Z

Zidong Zhang

Key Laboratory for Liquid−Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education)

F

Fushan Li

Z

Zixuan Liu

State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Q

Qing Hou

Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University 1 , Chengdu 610064,

S

Shilu Wang

Shandong Key Laboratory of Metamaterial and Electromagnetic Manipulation Technology Shandong University Jinan China

K

Ke Bi

J

Jiaomin Li

Shandong Key Laboratory of Metamaterial and Electromagnetic Manipulation Technology Shandong University Jinan China

J

Jia Su

Y

Yao Liu