A review on advancement of materials for terahertz applications

Abstract

The field of terahertz (THz) technology has seen tremendous scientific progress over the past decade due to its superiority in communication, imaging, spectroscopy and security. THz radiation is situated between the microwave and infrared radiation frequency bands and may readily penetrate a variety of materials, including biological tissue. As a result, in order to accomplish active manipulation for THz amplitude, phase, polarization state, and wave front, THz functional materials with high-speed, low-loss must be developed. This review is required to bridge this gap by systematically linking material properties both from traditional and emerging materials like nanostructured and two-dimensional (2D) materials to the performance requirements of THz devices. The primary objective is to establish a framework for material selection that addresses challenges such as atmospheric absorption, limited transmission range, and integration with existing technologies. Major findings in this review include identifying material-driven strategies to optimize THz device performance, offering insights that accelerate the development of efficient, compact, and high-performance THz systems across scientific, industrial, and medical domains.