Acoustic metamaterials in 2026: overview
Acoustic metamaterials use carefully designed structures to shape sound and mechanical waves beyond the capabilities of conventional materials. Resonators, channels and patterned surfaces can manipulate transmission, reflection and absorption, including at low frequencies where ordinary absorbers may be bulky. Current engineering work focuses on making these structures compact and effective while preserving airflow, mechanical strength or performance across a broad frequency range. Subwavelength control offers routes to quieter vehicles and buildings, improved sensing, and more precise sound fields.
In September 2026, Chongqing University and Changan Automobile reported impedance-optimized, coiled-channel absorbers designed to maintain low-frequency absorption under different sound amplitudes. In August 2026, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Shanghai JiaoTong University described an encapsulated-bubble metasurface for sound transmission across the water–air boundary, while Jiangsu University used deep learning for compact absorber design. These efforts reflect a broader shift toward inverse design and reconfigurable structures. A June 2026 report on MXene–polymer bonding points to another direction: tuning underwater absorption through material chemistry, not geometry alone.
- 1Design meets data: Deep-learning prediction and inverse design are helping researchers search complex absorber geometries, but manufacturing variation remains a barrier to reliable performance.
- 2Beyond fixed geometries: Origami-inspired and configurable designs aim to tune absorption and sound direction, while balancing attenuation with ventilation, bandwidth and practical fabrication.
- 3Interfaces in focus: Water–air transmission and underwater absorption are pushing metasurfaces toward specialized designs that address impedance mismatch, pressure resistance and material behavior.
Top organizations working on acoustic metamaterials
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to acoustic metamaterials. Showing 7 of 300 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Xi'an Jiaotong University
Research · China |
Locally resonant structures | PUB 47 | -26% | Recently, its researchers proposed an encapsulated-bubble metasurface to improve acoustic transmission across the water–air interface, alongside compact resonant designs for broadband sound absorption. |
| 2 | 
Nanjing University
Research · China |
Topological designs | PUB 36 · NEWS 1 | +18% | Recently, its researchers explored acoustic topological insulators with Dirac cones that can be shifted to enable angle-tunable wave propagation; their work also covers flat-band metasurfaces and acoustic holography. |
| 3 | 
Northwestern Polytechnical University
Research · China |
Locally resonant structures | PUB 31 | +21% | Researchers develop underwater acoustic absorbers designed to combine low-frequency, broadband sound absorption with pressure resistance, and study topological metamaterials for controlling acoustic wave propagation. |
| 4 | 
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Research · China |
Locally resonant structures | PUB 29 · NEWS 1 | -24% | Recently, its researchers proposed a dual-frequency metastructured hydrogel film for ultrasound imaging and a machine-learning-designed ventilated metamaterial for sound attenuation. |
| 5 | 
Tianjin University
Research · China |
Topological designs | PUB 29 | -7% | Recently, its researchers developed a compact acoustic metamaterial that guides multiple channels using bulk, surface and edge modes; other work explores Willis metasurfaces for sound transmission across water–air boundaries. |
| 6 | 
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Research · China |
Active and tunable structures | PUB 28 | -35% | Recently, its researchers proposed a reconfigurable acoustic metamaterial using multistable origami to tune low-frequency sound absorption. Other work addresses underwater sound attenuation and railway noise control. |
| 7 | 
National University of Defense Technology
Research · China |
Locally resonant structures | PUB 26 | -27% | Recently, its researchers used local topology optimization of Helmholtz and Fabry–Pérot resonators to design lightweight, thin structures for broadband, low-frequency sound absorption. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Startups to watch and leading research centers
Startups to watch 2 total
Phononic Vibes S.R.L.ItalyIt develops patented technologies for vibration and noise control and isolation, with a circular-economy approach.
Leading research institutions 268 total
- Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityChinaRecently, its researchers proposed an encapsulated-bubble metasurface to improve acoustic transmission across the water–air interface, alongside compact resonant designs for broadband sound absorption.
- Nanjing UniversityChinaRecently, its researchers explored acoustic topological insulators with Dirac cones that can be shifted to enable angle-tunable wave propagation; their work also covers flat-band metasurfaces and acoustic holography.
- Northwestern Polytechnical UniversityChinaResearchers develop underwater acoustic absorbers designed to combine low-frequency, broadband sound absorption with pressure resistance, and study topological metamaterials for controlling acoustic wave propagation.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where acoustic metamaterials innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 300 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locally resonant structures | Local resonators target low-frequency wave control in compact structures, but their performance can be narrowband and sensitive to design and operating conditions. | 105 |
Tianjin University, Yanshan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology |
| Periodic phononic structures | Repeated elements create frequency-dependent bandgaps for blocking or guiding waves, with performance tied to the structure’s periodicity and operating range. | 156 |
Tianjin University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Yanshan University |
| Space-coiling designs | Folded channels lengthen sound paths within compact devices, enabling low-frequency absorption but adding geometric complexity and potential fabrication constraints. | 42 |
Polytechnic University of Milan, Jiangsu University, Phononic Vibes S.R.L. |
| Membrane and plate resonators | Vibrating membranes and plates provide tunable resonant control, but their behavior can depend on boundary conditions and structural loading. | 34 |
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Tongji University |
| Topological designs | Topological structures guide waves along robust paths around defects, while precise control can require complex layouts and careful tuning. | 21 |
Nanjing University, IMDEA Materials, Northwestern Polytechnical University |
| Active and tunable structures | Actuation or reconfiguration changes acoustic response in operation, offering adaptability at the cost of added control hardware and system complexity. | 29 |
Xi'an Jiaotong University, Nanjing University, University of Exeter |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
Recorded grants total $11,250,436 across 35 grants since 2020. The funding-round figures are not clearly attributable to acoustic metamaterial work.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Oct 2026Phase transitions are traditionally understood within two seemingly incompatible theoretical paradigms. Landau–Ginzburg phase transitions1,2 are continuous, occurring at critical points where microscopic details become…Nature - Issue - nature.com science feeds
- Sep 2026Dublin, Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Metamaterial Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Metamaterial Market research report provides strategic analysis of…GlobeNewswire - Research Analysis And Reports
- Sep 2026A new speaker uses metamaterials and ultrasound to beam audio towards individual listeners, reducing sound leakage while enabling personalised listening in shared spaces without headphones. Researchers at Pohang…Electronics For You
- Jul 2026Imagine standing right next to the runway as a massive, commercial jetliner punches its engines and blasts off into the sky. You brace yourself for the usual deafening, bone-rattling roar of the exhaust. Instead, you…Science on Medium
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about acoustic metamaterials
What companies are working on acoustic metamaterials?
FACTS lists 32 companies and names Samsung, Metasonixx Ltd, Dan Clark Audio Inc., and AMD Design, LLC among patent holders. Samsung has four listed patents, while each of the other three has two. These records show corporate IP activity, but do not establish which firms currently sell acoustic metamaterial products or act as suppliers.
Which acoustic metamaterials startups are notable in 2026?
FACTS identifies 2 startups, including Phononic Vibes S.R.L., which develops patented technologies for vibration and noise control and isolation with a circular-economy approach. Its records show activity in publications and news. The available information does not support ranking startups by technical performance, commercial traction or investment prospects.
Which universities lead acoustic metamaterials research?
Xi'an Jiaotong University leads the listed research organizations with 47 documents in the window, followed by Nanjing University with 37 and Northwestern Polytechnical University with 31. Recent work spans absorption, topological wave control and underwater acoustics. These figures indicate research activity, not a direct comparison of technical quality or commercial readiness.
How much funding has acoustic metamaterials received?
FACTS records $11,250,436 in grants across 35 grants since 2020. These figures describe grants associated with the topic; they do not measure total investment in the field. The funding-round data includes financing for organizations whose acoustic metamaterial activities are not established by the available information, so those amounts should not be treated as dedicated sector funding.
Who holds the most acoustic metamaterials patents?
Samsung is the leading listed patent holder, with four patents. Metasonixx Ltd, Dan Clark Audio Inc., The University of Sussex and AMD Design, LLC each have two. The listed holders also include Johns Hopkins University, Toshiba Corporation and Aramco Services Company. These counts describe patents in the supplied topic data, not the full global patent portfolio of each organization.
What are the latest developments in acoustic metamaterials?
Recent work includes Chongqing University and Changan Automobile’s impedance-optimized absorber study in September 2026, and the encapsulated-bubble metasurface for water–air transmission reported by Xi'an Jiaotong University and Shanghai JiaoTong University in August 2026. Other directions include deep-learning inverse design, reconfigurable origami absorbers and MXene–polymer approaches to underwater sound absorption.
What are the main approaches in acoustic metamaterials?
The main approaches are locally resonant structures, periodic phononic structures, space-coiling designs, membrane and plate resonators, topological designs, and active and tunable structures. Resonators and folded channels often target compact, low-frequency absorption; periodic and topological structures shape wave propagation. Active or reconfigurable systems add adaptability, but typically bring greater design and control complexity.
Which countries lead acoustic metamaterials?
China leads the listed countries with 2,040 documents, or 49.0% of the total, followed by the United States with 876 documents, or 21.0%. The United Kingdom is next with 346 documents. These figures describe the geographic distribution of topic documents and do not, on their own, measure commercial deployment or patent strength.
What are the applications of acoustic metamaterials?
FACTS lists noise and vibration control, transportation and aerospace, underwater acoustics, audio and sound-field control, and biomedical ultrasound as applications. Noise and vibration control has 266 documents; audio and sound-field control has 58. Research examples include broadband absorption, sound transmission across water and air, aircraft noise suppression, acoustic sensing and ultrasound imaging.