Data-Driven Design for Metamaterials and Multiscale Systems: A Review
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Abstract (arXiv)
Metamaterials are artificial materials designed to exhibit effective material parameters that go beyond those found in nature. Composed of unit cells with rich designability that are assembled into multiscale systems, they hold great promise for realizing next-generation devices with exceptional, often exotic, functionalities. However, the vast design space and intricate structure-property relationships pose significant challenges in their design. A compelling paradigm that could bring the full potential of metamaterials to fruition is emerging: data-driven design. In this review, we provide a holistic overview of this rapidly evolving field, emphasizing the general methodology instead of specific domains and deployment contexts. We organize existing research into data-driven modules, encompassing data acquisition, machine learning-based unit cell design, and data-driven multiscale optimization. We further categorize the approaches within each module based on shared principles, analyze and compare strengths and applicability, explore connections between different modules, and identify open research questions and opportunities.
Key facts. Cited by 17 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 62 of its 325 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 1 Jul 2023.
Builds on
62 of 325 references.
References · 62
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50 most cited of 62 All 62 (JSON)
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Citing papers per year: 2023: 1; 2024: 5; 2025: 8; 2026: 3.
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- 2024AtomAgents: Alloy design and discovery through physics-aware multi-modal multi-agent artificial intelligencecited by 36
- 2024Guided Diffusion for Fast Inverse Design of Density-based Mechanical Metamaterialscited by 7
- 2025MIND: Microstructure INverse Design with Generative Hybrid Neural Representationcited by 4
- 2025Chat to Chip: Large Language Model Based Design of Arbitrarily Shaped Metasurfacescited by 4
- 2023Generative Inverse Design of Metamaterials with Functional Responses by Interpretable Learningcited by 3
- 2025MetaGen: A DSL, Database, and Benchmark for VLM-Assisted Metamaterial Generationcited by 3
- 2024Two-Stage Surrogate Modeling for Data-Driven Design Optimization with Application to Composite Microstructure Generationcited by 2
- 2024FFT-based surrogate modeling of auxetic metamaterials with real-time prediction of effective elastic properties and swift inverse designcited by 2
- 2025ReBaNO: Reduced Basis Neural Operator Mitigating Generalization Gaps and Achieving Discretization Invariancecited by 2
- 2025Data driven approaches in nanophotonics: A review of AI-enabled metadevicescited by 2
- 2025Reduced-order structure-property linkages for stochastic metamaterialscited by 1
- 2025Diffusion-Based Electromagnetic Inverse Design of Scattering Structured Mediacited by 1
5 more
- 2024Machine Learning-Guided Design of Non-Reciprocal and Asymmetric Elastic Chiral Metamaterialscited by 0
- 2025Heterogeneous Metamaterials Design via Multiscale Neural Implicit Representationcited by 0
- 2026RAG: A Random-Forest-Based Generative Design Framework for Uncertainty-Aware Design of Metamaterials with Complex Functional Response Requirementscited by 0
- 2026One-Shot Generative Design for Disordered Metamaterials via Self-Organizing Neural Cellular Automatacited by 0
- 2026Diffusion-Based Inverse Design of Dielectric Resonator Metasurfaces for Shaping Smart Electromagnetic Environmentscited by 0
- 2026Diffusion-Based Inverse Design of Dielectric Resonator Metasurfaces for Shaping Smart Electromagnetic Environments30 Aug 2026
- 2026One-Shot Generative Design for Disordered Metamaterials via Self-Organizing Neural Cellular Automata16 Jul 2026
- 2026RAG: A Random-Forest-Based Generative Design Framework for Uncertainty-Aware Design of Metamaterials with Complex Functional Response Requirements19 Jan 2026
- 2025Diffusion-Based Electromagnetic Inverse Design of Scattering Structured Media7 Nov 2025
- 2025Heterogeneous Metamaterials Design via Multiscale Neural Implicit Representation4 Nov 2025
- 2025Data driven approaches in nanophotonics: A review of AI-enabled metadevices30 Sep 2025
- 2025Chat to Chip: Large Language Model Based Design of Arbitrarily Shaped Metasurfaces29 Sep 2025
- 2025ReBaNO: Reduced Basis Neural Operator Mitigating Generalization Gaps and Achieving Discretization Invariance11 Sep 2025
- 2025MetaGen: A DSL, Database, and Benchmark for VLM-Assisted Metamaterial Generation25 Aug 2025
- 2025Reduced-order structure-property linkages for stochastic metamaterials2 May 2025
- 2025MIND: Microstructure INverse Design with Generative Hybrid Neural Representation1 Feb 2025
- 2024FFT-based surrogate modeling of auxetic metamaterials with real-time prediction of effective elastic properties and swift inverse design24 Aug 2024
5 more
- 2024AtomAgents: Alloy design and discovery through physics-aware multi-modal multi-agent artificial intelligence13 Jul 2024
- 2024Machine Learning-Guided Design of Non-Reciprocal and Asymmetric Elastic Chiral Metamaterials19 Apr 2024
- 2024Guided Diffusion for Fast Inverse Design of Density-based Mechanical Metamaterials24 Jan 2024
- 2024Two-Stage Surrogate Modeling for Data-Driven Design Optimization with Application to Composite Microstructure Generation4 Jan 2024
- 2023Generative Inverse Design of Metamaterials with Functional Responses by Interpretable Learning8 Dec 2023
- 2025MIND: Microstructure INverse Design with Generative Hybrid Neural Representationcited by 4
- 2025Chat to Chip: Large Language Model Based Design of Arbitrarily Shaped Metasurfacescited by 4
- 2023Generative Inverse Design of Metamaterials with Functional Responses by Interpretable Learningcited by 3
- 2025MetaGen: A DSL, Database, and Benchmark for VLM-Assisted Metamaterial Generationcited by 3
- 2024Two-Stage Surrogate Modeling for Data-Driven Design Optimization with Application to Composite Microstructure Generationcited by 2
- 2024FFT-based surrogate modeling of auxetic metamaterials with real-time prediction of effective elastic properties and swift inverse designcited by 2
- 2025ReBaNO: Reduced Basis Neural Operator Mitigating Generalization Gaps and Achieving Discretization Invariancecited by 2
- 2025Data driven approaches in nanophotonics: A review of AI-enabled metadevicescited by 2
- 2025Reduced-order structure-property linkages for stochastic metamaterialscited by 1
- 2024Machine Learning-Guided Design of Non-Reciprocal and Asymmetric Elastic Chiral Metamaterialscited by 0
- 2025Heterogeneous Metamaterials Design via Multiscale Neural Implicit Representationcited by 0
- 2026RAG: A Random-Forest-Based Generative Design Framework for Uncertainty-Aware Design of Metamaterials with Complex Functional Response Requirementscited by 0
12 most cited of 14 All 14 (JSON)
- 2026Diffusion-Based Inverse Design of Dielectric Resonator Metasurfaces for Shaping Smart Electromagnetic Environments30 Aug 2026
- 2026One-Shot Generative Design for Disordered Metamaterials via Self-Organizing Neural Cellular Automata16 Jul 2026
- 2026RAG: A Random-Forest-Based Generative Design Framework for Uncertainty-Aware Design of Metamaterials with Complex Functional Response Requirements19 Jan 2026
- 2025Heterogeneous Metamaterials Design via Multiscale Neural Implicit Representation4 Nov 2025
- 2025Data driven approaches in nanophotonics: A review of AI-enabled metadevices30 Sep 2025
- 2025Chat to Chip: Large Language Model Based Design of Arbitrarily Shaped Metasurfaces29 Sep 2025
- 2025ReBaNO: Reduced Basis Neural Operator Mitigating Generalization Gaps and Achieving Discretization Invariance11 Sep 2025
- 2025MetaGen: A DSL, Database, and Benchmark for VLM-Assisted Metamaterial Generation25 Aug 2025
- 2025Reduced-order structure-property linkages for stochastic metamaterials2 May 2025
- 2025MIND: Microstructure INverse Design with Generative Hybrid Neural Representation1 Feb 2025
- 2024FFT-based surrogate modeling of auxetic metamaterials with real-time prediction of effective elastic properties and swift inverse design24 Aug 2024
- 2024Machine Learning-Guided Design of Non-Reciprocal and Asymmetric Elastic Chiral Metamaterials19 Apr 2024
12 newest of 14 All 14 (JSON)