Research

Topic#1: AI-based electromagnetic metamaterial research via free-form meta-atom synthesis

Impactful Motivation:

The physical layer of next-generation wireless communication systems requires greater degrees of freedom (DoF) in spectrum, spatial, and temporal domains to unlock its full performance potential for growing demands on efficiency, resolution, and cost-effectiveness. Meta-devices with rich DoF, including metamaterial-based antennas and RF components, enable unique electromagnetic properties and flexible structural advantages but also pose time-consuming optimization challenges due to their high-dimensional solution space.

Featured Research:

My research focused on AI-enabled efficient and controllable synthesis of meta-devices, contributing to practical challenges in the wireless physical layer. To challenge the ideal scan loss of high-gain beams, I proposed domain knowledge-embedded generative deep-learning methods to generate quasi-free-form metacells and constructed an AI-enabled metalens antenna. For exploring extreme spatial filtering, a knowledge-guided conditional neural network is proposed to synthesize frequency-selective surfaces, featuring beyond-logic designs and controllable diverse solutions. For emerging wireless applications, the proposed generative AI-enabled methods and prototypes enhance spatial coverage, spectral efficiency, and channel quality and boost automated design.

Achievements:

• One published first-author paper on IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

• One submitted first-author paper for IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

• Two first-author international conference papers

• Two published co-author journal paper on IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

• Three prototypes of deep learning-enabled metasurface antenna, array, and frequency selective surface

Fundings:

• Deep learning-based ultra-high-gain beamscanning metalens antenna

Temasek Laboratories, Singapore                                                                                                                 2024.02

• Research on deep learning-based synthesis of frequency-selective surfaces

Local Industry Consultation, Singapore                                                                                                         2023.10

• Deep learning-based dual-polarized wide-angle beamscanning metalens antenna

Temasek Laboratories, Singapore                                                                                                                 2023.02 

Topic#2: Metamaterial development for intelligent wireless physical layer

Impactful Motivation:

Intelligent wireless networks, rooted in propagation manipulation and environmental sensing, have shown increasing demands for satellite-to-satellite links, connected vehicles, and smart buildings. Concurrent sensing and communication require a shared-structure integration of desired radiation capabilities and independent scattered manipulation. However, the impact of scattering manipulation on traditional radiators leads to distorted modes, degraded performance, increased volume, and even more challenges in the actual co-spectrum co-polarized conditions.

Featured Research:

My research introduced characteristic modes, time reversal, and other physical methods into the metasurface antenna design approaches to integrate the desired radiation performance with in-band co-polarized scattered/reflected functions with low interference. Towards practical scenarios, the proposed prototypes enhanced the far-field radiation performance independent of flexible and multi-objective scattering manipulation, contributing to adaptable and intelligent sensing and communication systems.

Achievements (supported by prototypes and experiments):

• Four published first-author journal paper on IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

• Five first-author international conference paper

• Seven prototypes of metasurface-enabled antennas/ array and reconfigurable frequency selective surface

• One Chinese Invention Patent

• Selected by “What's Hot in Antennas and Propagation” of IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society

Fundings:

Research on Basic Theory and Key Technology of Flying Electromagnetic Toroid Based on Array Structure

National Natural Science Foundation of China - Young Scientists Fund, China                                           2020.01

Research on Basic Theory and Key Technology of Ultra-Wide-Angle Beam Scanning Planar Phased Array

National Natural Science Foundation of China - Key Program, China                                                          2018.01