Flexible multi-band metamaterial absorber with polarization-insensitive electromagnetic stealth

Abstract Metamaterial absorbers have widespread applications in fields such as communication, electromagnetic stealth, and electromagnetic interference due to their unique electromagnetic properties. This paper propose a flexible metamaterial absorber with indium tin oxide as the resonant element and PTFE as the substrate material. The absorber exhibits an absorption rate exceeding 90% across the frequency range of 11.65–75 GHz, with a maximum absorption bandwidth of 63.35 GHz, covering the Ku, K, Ka, U, and V bands. The structure is insensitive to polarization angles in the range of 0°–90° for both TE and TM modes, demonstrating excellent absorption stability for both modes. The flexible structure has a thickness of 1.51 mm, and its curvature adaptability allows it to effectively absorb electromagnetic waves even at different bending angles. Therefore, these exceptional characteristics make the absorber highly valuable and promising for practical applications in wireless communication, 5G high-frequency communication, radar stealth, and satellite stealth.