Terahertz (THz) technology holds immense potential across fields as diverse as high-speed wireless communication, biomedical diagnostics, security imaging, and quantum sensing. However, realizing its full potential hinges on materials that are not only functionally efficient but also sustainable and environmentally conscious. Now, researchers from the College of Textile and Clothing Engineering at Soochow University, led by Professor Hualing He, present a comprehensive review titled “Sustainable Materials Enabled Terahertz Functional Devices.” This work offers a timely roadmap for harnessing green and low-carbon materials to drive the future of THz science and engineering.
Why Terahertz—and Why Sustainability?
Positioned between microwaves and infrared radiation, the terahertz frequency band (0.1–10 THz) enables unprecedented capabilities such as non-invasive imaging, ultrafast data transmission, and sensitive spectroscopy. Yet, conventional materials used in THz components—such as toxic semiconductors, expensive metals, and rare inorganic crystals—pose environmental and economic concerns. The drive toward low-carbon, biodegradable, and earth-abundant materials is therefore not only timely, but essential.
Green Materials at the Forefront of THz Innovation
This review highlights a wide range of sustainable materials that are actively shaping the THz landscape:
THz Functional Devices: From Emitters to Detectors
The article categorizes sustainable THz-enabled devices into four main types:
Challenges and the Path Forward
Despite exciting progress, the review underscores several key hurdles:
To address these gaps, the authors advocate for cross-disciplinary collaboration among chemists, materials scientists, device engineers, and environmental analysts. Future directions include hybrid organic-inorganic systems, additive manufacturing techniques, and AI-guided material discovery tailored for THz applications.
Toward a Sustainable Terahertz Future
This review makes a compelling case that sustainability and performance are no longer mutually exclusive. As global demand for THz-enabled technologies surges, particularly in wireless communication (6G and beyond), healthcare monitoring, and environmental sensing, the integration of eco-friendly materials will become not just desirable, but imperative.
By mapping the current progress and outlining future needs, this article lays the groundwork for a new generation of terahertz devices that are efficient, scalable, and environmentally responsible—bringing us one step closer to a greener, smarter technological future.
Nano-Micro Letters
Experimental study
Sustainable Materials Enabled Terahertz Functional Devices
11-Apr-2025