A bifunctional metamaterial with broadband properties of absorption and linear-to-linear polarization conversion

Abstract This paper proposes, measures, and investigates a bifunctional metamaterial capable of achieving absorption and reflective linear-to-linear polarization conversion simultaneously, which both exhibit the characteristics of broadband. The unit cell consists of a metal pattern with resistors, a dielectric plate, an air layer, and a metal backplate. The simulation results demonstrate that the designed metamaterial acquires over 90% absorption in the microwave band of 6.5–9.3 GHz. Within the frequency range of 12.7 GHz–17.2 GHz, the polarization conversion rate exceeds 90%, effectively converting y -polarized incident waves into x -polarized reflected waves. The experimental results align with the simulation data. The surface current and electric field distributions are utilized to analyze the absorption and polarization conversion phenomena. This bifunctional metamaterial exhibits potential application in radar imaging, enhancing data transmission rates, and wireless communication.