Alternative contactless metamaterial-inspired microwave sensors, composed of a multi-band omnidirectional bowtie antenna and metamaterials, are developed to detect and identify mercury, one of the most widespread toxic heavy metals, in the C-band and S-band, using reflection coefficients. A multi-negative refractive index band metamaterial is specifically designed as a sensing enhancer, where the multi bands can effectively trigger the electromagnetic properties, as well as enhance the differentiation between the mercury samples. The geometry of the metamaterial and its arrangement and orientation are optimized to reach the system highest sensitivity. The proposed sensors were tested on mercury traces of various volumes and weights. Our study has shown that the electromagnetic responses of the mercury in the microwave range are nonlinear, yet predictable. Six distinguishable resonances generated while testing the samples specify the capability of identifying the mercury amount, which can effectively trace mercury contamination in water and seawater.

开发了由多波段全向领结天线和超材料组成的替代非接触式超材料启发式微波传感器，用于使用反射系数检测和识别 C 波段和 S 波段中最普遍的有毒重金属之一汞. 一种多负折射率波段超材料专门设计为传感增强剂，其中多波段可以有效地触发电磁特性，并增强汞样品之间的区分。对超材料的几何形状及其排列和方向进行了优化，以达到系统的最高灵敏度。提议的传感器在各种体积和重量的汞痕量上进行了测试。我们的研究表明，汞在微波范围内的电磁响应是非线性的，还是可以预见的。测试样品时产生的六个可区分共振指定了识别汞含量的能力，可有效追踪水和海水中的汞污染。