Metamaterials · Metastructures · AI-aided Design

Metastructure Lab

We design architected materials and metastructures that connect mechanics, electromagnetic absorption, additive manufacturing, and computational intelligence.

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Research Highlights

All research
Rigid-Flexible Interlocked Metastructures
StealthMetastructureBroadband absorption

Rigid-Flexible Interlocked Metastructures

We present a chain mail-inspired stealth skin using topologically interlocking units, merging mechanical robustness with 2–40 GHz broadband absorption. This lightweight, conformable surface withstands damage and bending. Demonstrated on drones, it reduces radar cross-section by over 98%, establishing a versatile strategy for advanced aerospace applications.

10.1126/sciadv.aeb7870
Tunable Electromagnetic Absorber
ReconfigurableElectromagneticAdaptive stealth

Tunable Electromagnetic Absorber

A bioinspired reconfigurable metamaterial is proposed to achieve broadband absorption and frequency agility for stealth. Inspired by moth-eye morphology, it employs a mechanical system to reconfigure petal-shaped structures. The design enables ≥90% absorption over 2–40 GHz and tunable ≥99% peaks with >3 GHz bandwidth. Structural reconfiguration reshapes impedance, ensuring broadband RCS reduction and adaptive suppression. With coded driving, 2D control of frequency and amplitude is realized, advancing next-generation intelligent stealth systems.

10.1002/adma.202511070
TPMS Absorption Mechanism
TPMSMechanismAdvanced Functional Materials

TPMS Absorption Mechanism

This study investigates 3D metastructure absorbers, highlighting the influence of unit geometry, volume fraction, and lattice orientation on electromagnetic behavior. Sheet-based TPMS metastructures exhibit higher reflectivity than strut-based ones, while multilayer structures show the opposite. Geometric symmetry enhances polarization insensitivity, offering design principles for next-generation broadband, wide-angle, and polarization-insensitive devices.

10.1002/adfm.202414629

Selected Publications

Full list
2026 Featured Under Review

A 99 Line Homogenization Code for Lattice-skin Plate Structures

Zhongkai Ji, Dawei Li*, Yong Zhao*, Wenhe Liao

Educational Paper, Under Review, 2026

HomogenizationLattice-skinOpen source
Paper
2026 Featured Accepted

Data-driven hierarchical gradient design of metastructures with strong electromagnetic absorption

Zhongkai Ji, Dawei Li*, Yong Zhao*, Wenhe Liao, Weiping Li, Yi Min Xie

Science China Technological Sciences, Accepted, 2026

Data-driven designGradient metastructureEM absorption
2026 Featured Published

Lightweight conformal design of optically transparent and broadband microwave absorbing metamaterial

Zhi Qu, Wenhe Liao*, Dawei Li, Tingting Liu, Zhongkai Ji, Junming Zhao

Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials, 2026

Transparent absorberBroadband absorptionMetamaterial
Paper
2025 Featured Published

Rigid-Flexible Interlocked Metastructures Enable Conformal Stealth

Chengtao Sun#, Dawei Li#, Wenhe Liao*, Tingting Liu

Science Advances, 2025

Conformal stealthInterlocked metastructureBroadband absorption
Paper
2025 Featured Published

Agile Stealth: Bioinspired Metamaterials with Continuous Dynamic Tuning

Gang Wang#, Dawei Li#, Wenhe Liao*, Tingting Liu

Advanced Materials, 2025, e11070

BioinspiredDynamic tuningStealth
Paper