Intelligent metasurfaces: control, communication and computing

TLDR

Controlling electromagnetic waves and information simultaneously by information metasurfaces is central to modern society, and intelligent metasurfaces are smart platforms that manipulate wave–information–matter interactions without manual intervention by combining engineered ultrathin structures with active devices and algorithms, extending passive composite materials to achieve interactions not found in nature. This review surveys recent progress in intelligent metasurfaces for wave–information–matter control, exploring their application in novel wireless communication architectures—especially metasurface‑modulated backscatter—and wave‑based computing for intelligent sensing. The authors examine the underlying physical mechanisms and historical development of intelligent metasurfaces, detailing how engineered ultrathin structures, active devices, and algorithms enable dynamic wave manipulation. The review concludes by highlighting challenges and proposing future directions for advancing intelligent metasurfaces in control, communication, and computing.

Abstract

Abstract Controlling electromagnetic waves and information simultaneously by information metasurfaces is of central importance in modern society. Intelligent metasurfaces are smart platforms to manipulate the wave–information–matter interactions without manual intervention by synergizing engineered ultrathin structures with active devices and algorithms, which evolve from the passive composite materials for tailoring wave–matter interactions that cannot be achieved in nature. Here, we review the recent progress of intelligent metasurfaces in wave–information–matter controls by providing the historical background and underlying physical mechanisms. Then we explore the application of intelligent metasurfaces in developing novel wireless communication architectures, with particular emphasis on metasurface-modulated backscatter wireless communications. We also explore the wave-based computing by using the intelligent metasurfaces, focusing on the emerging research direction in intelligent sensing. Finally, we comment on the challenges and highlight the potential routes for the further developments of the intelligent metasurfaces for controls, communications and computing.