3D-printed, carbon-based, lossy photonic crystals: Is high electrical conductivity the must?

Abstract

The electromagnetic response of 3D-printed periodic carbon structures was investigated numerically and experimentally in the microwave (26-37 GHz) and terahertz (0.2-1.2 THz) frequency ranges. The reflection, transmission and absorption spectra, as well as the effects of the concentration of electromagnetic waves, were analysed and discussed. High broadband absorption was observed for the 3D-printed cellular structures based on a moderately conductive (1 -30 S•m -1 ) skeleton, whereas perfect tuneable resonant absorption could be achieved by 3D meshes made of highly conductive (1 200 -2 000 S•m -1 ) glassy carbon. We show that laser stereolithography (SLA) or fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D-printing technique should be preferred for getting pre-defined required electromagnetic performances depending on the intended application.

Thermal and Electromagnetic Properties of Polymer Holey Structures Produced by Additive Manufacturing

“…Meshes containing one, two, and three layers of periodic cells with 3 mm lattice parameter and w = 0.83 mm were explored. High broadband absorption (power transmission below 1% ) was predicted in the Ka band for all three structures, already with on a moderately conductive skeleton (1-200 S/m) [9].…”

“…By contrast, metallic structures are less interesting as soon as they reflect more than they absorb. Thus, large electrical DC conductivity is not a necessary condition for high absorbance [9]. Commercial applications of a shielding layer requires an attenuation of the incident electromagnetic power better than 20 db [10].…”

3D printing of carbon-based materials: A review

“…The structure was converted to a periodic glasslike carbon lattice (carbon yield of about 20 %), stiffer than typical carbon foam, and having excellent electrical conductivity (between 1200 and 2000 S m -1 ). The materials were found to behave like photonic crystals in the GHz-THz range to provide perfectly tunable resonant absorption for the intended application [84]. Copyright 2020, Elsevier.…”

Effects of focused electron beam irradiation parameters on direct nanostructure formation on Ag surfaces

“…There is a potential for carbon and carbon-metal based nanostructured systems to be used in different fields of nanotechnology [33][34][35][36]. Therefore, understanding the process of nanostructure formation from hydrocarbon deposition on metal surfaces via focused electron irradiation is important.…”