As 5G wireless networks roll out and 6G networks are being developed, there is a growing need for higher speeds and greater capacity. To meet this demand, communication systems are shifting to higher frequencies such as millimetre-waves (mm-waves). Fabricating components for these frequencies is challenging, as the smaller sizes require new materials and techniques. Metasurfaces, which can control electromagnetic waves, present a cost-effective alternative to traditional devices. However, the analysis and synthesis of metasurfaces becomes computationally demanding as their complexity increases. MILLISURF aims at developing semi-analytical formulations that will enable fast and efficient synthesis of high-performance optimized metasurfaces, suitable for mm-Wave communications. It will also harness advanced fabrication methods to facilitate the realization of optimized metasurface components. The synthesized metasurfaces will also be easy-to-fabricate, low-cost and lightweight, suitable for mm-Wave communications. The MILLISURF project consists of the following major research objectives: (i) Introduction of novel robust semi-analytical formulations for accurate and fast approximation of large-scale metasurface response, (ii) Design of novel, easy-to-fabricate, low-cost, and lightweight mmWave components, such as absorbers, filters, polarization-converters, and gratings, (iii) Development of a fast and efficient optimization framework based on semi-analytical methods, (iv) Fabrication and experimental characterization of the optimized mm-Wave components. By combining computational efficiency, optimized performance and highly accurate fabrication methods, optimized devices are realized within MILLISURF, which enhance the reliability and robustness of 5G and future 6G communication systems. The meticulously and efficiently designed mm-Wave components will be readily integratable with existing mm-Wave solutions.
