The Potential Surface is a science and technology publication supported by Orbital Materials
Many of the staples of science fiction - invisibility cloaks, infinite zoom lenses, or limitless solar energy - rely on manipulating sound, light or electromagnetic waves. This has historically been incredibly hard - ordinary, natural, materials can’t do this.
However, new scientific breakthroughs are starting to make these materials, called “Metamaterials”, a reality. These materials can bend light backwards, resolve details smaller than the wavelength of light, or even bend light around you to make an “invisibility" cloak”.
Unlike conventional materials, metamaterials’ defining characteristics are derived not from the quantum properties of their chemical composition like most advanced materials , but from their precisely engineered internal architecture. One really exciting implication of this is their suitability for AI design and optimisation. It's possible to generate vast quantities of high-fidelity training data through simulation, and the resulting AI predictions can be readily fabricated and validated in the real world.
This unique approach is being explored for a vast range of potential applications, from future 6G network technologies and compact optics for augmented reality to solutions for managing extreme temperatures in space, developing advanced biosensors, and creating more efficient solar panels.
Because of their potential metamaterials have become a strategic focus for governments around the world. China is investing in developing a national platform for metamaterials. In the US, the Office of Naval Research is pursuing a metamaterials program. And in February 2025, the UK government identified metamaterials as a key research priority, recognising their potential to transform critical technologies in ways conventional materials cannot.
In this article, we’ll unpack what metamaterials actually are, explore how AI could accelerate their development, and consider what it will take to get experimentalists and manufacturers on board with using these tools. To wrap up, we'll explore the science behind everyone's favourite sci-fi concept brought to life: invisibility cloaks.
Structure Over Substance: An Introduction to Metamaterials
Metamaterials are a relatively new class of technology. The term “metamaterial” was first coined by Walser in 2001, who was inspired by the first experimental demonstration of a material with a negative refractive index.
A metamaterial is any material whose structure is intentionally designed and engineered at the meso-scale (nano-to centermeters), built from repeating unit cells like those shown in the figure below.
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