Strain-invariant frequency-selective metasurface for electromagnetic interference shielding in wearable electronics

Abstract

The rapid expansion of wireless communication and data transmission has resulted in highly saturated electromagnetic (EM) environments, where undesired electromagnetic interference (EMI) can compromise signal integrity and lead to malfunctions in electronic systems. However, conventional EMI shielding materials typically attenuate broadband frequencies without selectivity, rendering them incompatible with wireless communication technologies. Moreover, their limited mechanical robustness restricts their applicability in wearable platforms. This study introduces a wearable metasurface-based EMI shielding material that enables selective transmission at 2.4 GHz with simultaneous broadband EMI attenuation across untargeted frequencies. To ensure reliable electromagnetic performance under mechanical deformation, a strain-controlling layer was incorporated to preserve the geometry of the metasurface unit cells. The resulting metasurface maintained consistent frequency-selective transmission at 2.4 GHz and effective EMI shielding under biaxial strain. These findings demonstrate a viable strategy for developing next-generation EMI shielding materials for deformable, wearable, and textile electronic systems through the integration of functional metasurfaces.