Head of the Research Group: Prof. Zsolt SZABÓ
Member of the Research Group: András ESZES
Contact: szabo.zsolt@itk.ppke.hu
In our laboratory, we design, manufacture, and characterize electromagnetic structures and metamaterials with special properties. In the structures we investigate, we apply not only changes in chemical composition but also geometric structuring to create these special properties. The lab aims to develop metamaterials ranging from the microwave region to the visible light range. The metamaterials we create are used, for example, in telecommunications components, biological sensing, and imaging below the diffraction limit.
We have recently been awarded a four-year grant from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary (NKFIH) for project A-152477, Metamaterial-based Lab-on-Chip Sensing. Lab-on-chip (LoC) technology has transformed biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and chemical analysis by integrating multiple laboratory functions onto a single miniaturized platform. Integrated sensors are central to LoC systems; and microwave frequencies are especially suited to detect samples with polar molecules (e.g. water). Therefore the goals of the project is to develop microwave sensors with higher sensitivity for low-concentration biomolecules (e.g. glucose) and pollutants (e.g. heavy metals) in microliter volumes, and to establish a cost-effective fabrication route (unit costs under €25) for accessible diagnostics and monitoring.
The electromagnetic behavior of a metasurface with a near-zero refractive index. The measurement setup of a subwavelength resonator. The geometry and microwave response of the dual-technology fluidic level sensor.
Future research directions, collaboration opportunities
We are open to collaboration in electromagnetic design, with a particular focus on metamaterials for sensing and antenna applications. Our laboratory is equipped with advanced 3D printing and direct ink writing (DIW) fabrication technologies. We can characterize fabricated samples using a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) up to 18 GHz.
Key publications
- Kálovics, M., Szolgay, P., Iván, K., Szabó, Zs. (2024). Microwave resonance based lab-on-a-chip local pressure sensing. IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL, vol. 24, no. 8, pp. 12085-12093.
- Kálovics, M., Iván, K. and Szabó, Zs. (2023). Microfluidic Mixing Device With Integrated Dual-Band Microwave Sensor. IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL, 23(14) pp. 15350-15360.
- Szabo, Zs., Park, G-H., Hedge, R. and Li, E-P. (2010). A Unique Extraction of Metamaterial Parameters Based on Kramers–Kronig Relationship. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICRO-WAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, 58(10) pp. 2646-2653.
