Switchable and Tunable Multifunctional Metamaterial Enabled by Hybrid Integration of Active Device and Microfluidic Liquid Metal

This paper presents a hybrid-controlled multifunctional metamaterial (HCMM) that integrates electromagnetic switching and frequency tuning through combined active and microfluidic modulation. The HCMM achieves rapid switching between shielding and transmission states via active control of PIN diodes, while wideband frequency tuning is accomplished by manipulating liquid metals (LMs) in embedded microfluidic channels. Wideband frequency adjustment is demonstrated through discrete coarse-tuning (LM injection/discharge) and continuous fine-tuning (precise LM segments repositioning). The underlying operational mechanisms are analyzed by establishing an equivalent circuit model (ECM). Finally, experimental measurements of a fabricated prototype validate the design, confirming its dual-function reconfigurability in both state switching and frequency adaptation.