Sensing with metamaterials: a review of recent developments

Purpose - This paper aims to provide a technical insight into a selection of recent developments of sensor based on metamaterials. Design/methodology/approach - Following a short introduction, this first part discusses sensors based on acoustic metamaterials. It then briefly considers negative index materials and split ring resonators and provides examples of sensors based on metamaterials which interact with electromagnetic radiation in the microwave, terahertz and infra-red regions. Finally, brief concluding comments are drawn. Findings - Since their discovery at around the turn of the century, metamaterials have been studied widely by the research community. A diverse range of sensors and imaging devices have since been developed which exploit the unique properties of these materials and respond to physical, chemical and biological variables. Many exhibit characteristics and capabilities with the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional devices. Originality/value - This provides details of a range of recently developed sensors based on the newly discovered families of metamaterials.