Terahertz metamaterials fabricated by inkjet printing

Metamaterial layers designed for gigahertz to terahertz (THz)-frequencies have been fabricated by inkjet printing. The spectral response of the structures consisting of periodically arranged metallic split-ring resonators is characterized by THz-time-domain spectroscopy and compared with identical structures produced by conventional photolithography and etching techniques. The broader linewidth of their resonances is shown to originate mainly from structural inhomogeneities. Our study shows that inkjet printing is a viable route for producing metamaterial structures, allowing for rapid processing and flexibility in the choice of substrates. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3276544]