Spatiotemporal multiphysics metamaterials with continuously adjustable functions

Abstract

Emerging multiphysics metamaterials offer a distinct possibility for regulating complex physical processes. However, two severe constraints still lower their functionality and tunability. First, multiphysics functionality is fixed once structures and materials are prepared, i.e., one functionality for one physical field. Second, continuous tunability is unavailable in multiphysics fields because parameters are hard to change on demand. Here, we propose the concept of spatiotemporal multiphysics metamaterials by delicately considering the temporal dimension. The spatiotemporal feature leads to multiple functions for each physical field and their continuous switching. We achieve flexible thermal and electric function switching between cloaking, sensing, and concentrating based on rotatable checkerboard structures with different rotation times, material composition, and geometric shapes. Real-time thermal and electric functions are theoretically predicted and confirmed by simulations. These results provide a promising spatiotemporal platform for realizing adaptive and intelligent multiphysics field manipulation.