Tiny atomic changes could make future wireless devices smarter and more efficient

Scientists at the Queen Mary University of London have found a new way to build smart wireless devices by making small atomic changes to the structure of a material, paving the way for a new generation of communication devices that are highly tunable as well as energy efficient. Modern-day communication is completely electronic in nature and relies on antennae, transmitters, and receivers that transfer information wirelessly and at rapid rates. Mobile networks, radar systems, and even satellite communication have made major technological leaps in the past couple of decades, but there is much that can be further improved. For instance, devices are usually equipped with fixed frequencies or a small range of frequencies in which they operate. This can make them incompatible for operation in different geographies or even inefficient when too many similar devices are operating at the same location. To overcome this, devices could be equipped with tunable frequencies, but this has remained only a theoretical solution until now. Atomic changes for tunability The researchers were working with a ceramic material called strontium tantalate. They made small atomic-scale distortions in the material by replacing a small number of the material’s atoms with those of calcium, which are much smaller in size. This is a new approach called interlayer microstrain engineering and creates small regions of electrical activity called polar nanoclusters inside the material. These polar nanoclusters would ideally be electrically inactive but quickly respond to electrical fields and add tunability to the material’s properties when needed. “This is a bit like finding a way to add dimmer switches to a system that previously only had an on and off setting,” explained Yang Hao, professor of antennas and electromagnetics at Queen Mary’s University in a press release. “Small structural changes give us a much greater level of control.” Next-gen communication devices In the past, when scientists have attempted to build tunable materials, the devices built out of them either waste too much energy or do not work well at high frequencies. In this case, the team achieved a unique combination of strong tunability, stable performance, and low energy loss. The results are surprising for the research team too since this was all achieved with a very small amount of calcium introduced into the ceramic material. With just eight percent calcium, the material shows high tunability and solves a problem that has plagued the communications industry for decades. The research team further demonstrated the versatility of the material by building prototype antennas and microwave devices whose frequencies could be changed by adjusting the voltage or temperature. “Wireless technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and that creates a need for materials that can adapt quickly and efficiently. Our research shows that small changes at the atomic level can have a surprisingly large effect on performance,” added Hangfeng Zhang, postdoctoral researcher at Queen Mary University, who was also involved in the study. “We hope this approach will help support the development of smarter antennas, tunable communication devices and other technologies that need to respond to changing demands in real time.” The research findings were published in the journal Science Advances. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Ameya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A Molecular Biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.