The Role of Two-Dimensional Materials in the Design of Future Wireless Communications Systems

Introduction

In this decade, terahertz band communication is expected to become a reality as a crucial wireless technology to support wireless Terabit-per-second (Tbps) links (Akildiz, 2014). Current wireless systems’ capacity and spectrum constraints will be reduced by THz band communication, which will also open new opportunities for applications in traditional networking domains and cutting-edge nanoscale communication paradigms. Removing the current wireless systems’ spectrum shortages and capacity constraints will also enable a huge spectrum of eagerly anticipated functions in diverse industries. The THz band is the spectral region in the 0.1 to 10 THz range. So far the most studied telecommunications ranges are microwaves and far infrared, however, the range in THz remains one of the least researched bandwidths for wireless communication. THz band communication is expected to be used in 5G and 6G cellular networks, secure terabit wireless communication for military purposes, T-WLAN (terabit wireless LAN), and T-WPAN (terabit wireless personal area networks). In addition, the THz band is intended for the implementation of nanoscale machines, which are defined as nanomachines to wirelessly communicate with one another. Nanomachines are very small functional devices capable of performing basic functions at the nanometer scale including sensing, actuation, data storage, or computation. The size of a nanomachine is in the range of a few hundred cubic nanometers for each component and, at most, a few cubic micrometers for the entire machine. According to cutting-edge research, technologically advanced nanoscale transmitters and antenna elements operate in the THz band. Some specialized applications include nuclear, biological, and chemical defenses as well as the Internet of Nano Things (IoNT), wireless networks-on-chip connectivity, and health monitoring systems. Terahertz band device technologies face numerous challenges, such as the need to develop novel transceiver configurations with low noise capabilities, high sensitivity, and high power, as well as the requirement for multi-band and ultra-broadband antennas to support connections at rates of Gbps (Gigabits-per-second) and Tbps (Terabits-per-second) for THz band with minimal channel path loss. The antennas inside a THz band communication network, like the transceiver, must be capable of working in a transmission bandwidth in the GHz to THz range.

Future wireless communications standards like 6G and beyond have high bandwidth and data rate requirements that can no longer be fulfilled by available moment technologies, which had mostly based on three-dimensional materials found in nature (Abohmra, 2022). The terahertz (THz) band represents the potential frequency range for the implementation of wireless communication networks not feasible in microwave and infrared bands. The recent rediscovery of the potential application in the Terahertz (THz) band of two-dimensional materials has promoted the use of graphene, the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and perovskites, which have the potential to solve some lengthy issues concerning the development of effective controls for THz wave transmission and detection. Graphene, TMDs (transition metal dichalcogenides), MXenes, and MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks) are case studies of 2D materials with significant electrical properties which can be used in THz devices to develop effective systems for future wireless communication systems. Two-dimensional materials, both in their monolayer and multilayer versions, have unique physical properties in the electrical, thermal, and mechanical sectors. These properties are used in the development of transceivers/receivers’ radio frequency (RF) front-end components, mixers, modulators, oscillators, switches, as well as amplifiers required for different signal modulators (Zhu, 2020). Since 2D materials have high mobilities, when they are applied as active materials in the channels of RF transistors, high cut-off frequencies, and high gains in analog and RF circuit design can be achieved. 2D materials are the next generation of smart materials for wireless communications, used to design flexible, miniature, wide bandwidth, and reliable patch-type RF monopole antennas with omnidirectional radiation for portable communication devices (Gund, 2019). MXenes, a distinctive family of 2D materials, had already displayed superior qualities across many wireless communications because of their outstanding high flexibility, mechanical stability, electrical conductivity, and ease of processing (He, 2021).