Ultrashort carbon nanotube coatings have been developed to absorb terahertz radiation, enabling better control of electromagnetic waves in 2D integrated optical circuits and providing protection against interference in silicon waveguides.

The study is cited as Xenidis et al., 2025, Nature Communications, with DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-66559-1.

Skoltech researchers, in collaboration with colleagues from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, publish the work in Nature Communications under the title Ultrathin Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Surface Wave Absorbers for Terahertz Dielectric Waveguides.

The technology could bolster future 6G communications by boosting terahertz device performance and enabling shielding, sensing, and medical applications that rely on terahertz waves.

The article highlights the potential for rapid synthesis and easy integration into photonic circuits, making the coating a versatile tool for next-generation terahertz devices and security-related applications.

Beyond telecommunications, the coating offers electromagnetic shielding for rooms or buildings and potential medical uses by containing terahertz exposure to targeted areas during imaging or treatment.

The coating is produced via aerosol chemical vapor deposition, achieving terahertz absorption with thicknesses ranging from 2 to 53 nanometers and near-total attenuation at the thicker end.

Lead researchers cited include Dmitry Krasnikov and Albert Nasibulin of Skoltech, with collaboration from Dmitry Lioubtchenko of KTH.