Design and analysis of a dual-band circular split-ring resonator-based metamaterial absorber for sensing applications

This study introduces a dual-band circular split-ring resonator (CSRR)-based metamaterial absorber (MTMA) designed for high-sensitivity sensing of both solid and liquid materials. The proposed structure, fabricated on a Rogers RT 5880 substrate with copper layers, achieves near-perfect absorption rates of 99.99% at 10.48 GHz (X-band) and 99.97% at 14.57 GHz (Ku-band), optimized through CST Microwave Studio simulations. The MTMA’s triple-stage design refinement enhances resonance characteristics, enabling precise detection of dielectric variations in substrates and liquids via measurable frequency shifts. Experimental validation confirms robust performance, with sensitivity of up to 2.51 GHz/εᵣ and quality factors reaching 189, thus outperforming existing single-band metamaterial sensors. The absorber’s compact size and consistent response under varying permittivity’s make it suitable for applications in biomedical diagnostics, fuel adulteration detection, and industrial quality control. By bridging gaps between simulation and real-world implementation, this work advances metamaterial-based sensing technology, offering a scalable and efficient solution for electromagnetic wave manipulation in next-generation sensor systems.