A Novel Multiband Fractal Antenna Based on Three-Dimensional Mandelbrot-Set Structure
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Yitao Huang
Nanoelectronic & Optoelectronic Devices
I explore how materials, nanoscale architectures, and interfaces can be engineered to control energy, fields, and charge in electronic and optoelectronic devices. My work combines device physics, micro/nanofabrication, multiphysics modeling, and reliability engineering. Building on earlier work in antennas, metamaterials, and resonant structures, I bring a structure-field perspective to nanoscale device design.
CURRENT RESEARCH
Nanoscale Optoelectronic Devices for Neural Interfaces
Thin-film photovoltaics, interface engineering, low-temperature nanofabrication, and multiphysics modeling for wireless neuromodulation.
EARLIER RESEARCHElectromagnetic Devices & Wave Engineering
Fractal antennas, metasurfaces, metamaterial absorbers, and computational electromagnetics for wave and field control.
PUBLICATIONSPublications & Patent
Peer-reviewed work in electromagnetic devices, fractal antennas, metasurfaces, and metamaterial engineering.
EDUCATIONUniversity of Pennsylvania
Tongji University
Research spanning nanoelectronics, semiconductor devices, quantum physics, integrated circuits, and electromagnetics.
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCEAnalog & Mixed-Signal IC Design
Circuit design, simulation, and validation experience at Monolithic Power Systems.
RESEARCH CAPABILITIESFrom Materials to Functional Devices
Micro/nanofabrication, device characterization, physical modeling, and cross-scale validation from materials and interfaces to device and circuit behavior.
CONTACTGet in Touch
Open to PhD research opportunities and collaborations in nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices.
CURRENT RESEARCH
Nanoscale Optoelectronic Devices for Neural Interfaces
Thin-film photovoltaic devices for light-powered neural stimulation and stable operation in physiological environments.
Cahira Technologies, Inc.
Aug 2025 – Present
Junior Engineer · MIT spinoff · Cambridge, MA
Fabrication and characterization at MIT.nano · PI: Prof. Deblina Sarkar
My work investigates how device architecture, fabrication, interfaces, and environmental stability govern performance, from optoelectronic energy conversion to reliable neural-interface operation.
Device Physics & Interfaces
Energy-level alignment, photovoltage generation, charge transport, interfacial recombination, and electrode coupling.
- Engineer material stacks and interfaces to control charge transport, suppress interfacial losses, and optimize photovoltage generation.
Multiphysics Modeling & Validation
Coupled optical, electrical, electromagnetic, thermal, and neural modeling that bridges device-level energy conversion with tissue-scale response.
- Model the pathway from optical absorption and carrier generation to electric-field distribution, membrane dynamics, and neural activation.
- Validate model predictions through electrical characterization and biological experiments across brain-interface platforms.
Micro/Nanofabrication
Low-temperature integration of multilayer inorganic and organic thin films into microscale optoelectronic devices.
- Develop thin-film deposition, photolithography, and pattern-transfer processes, using AFM, SEM, FIB-SEM, and electrical characterization to identify fabrication- and interface-driven device behavior.
Reliability & Biointerfaces
Encapsulation, barrier engineering, corrosion-resistant contacts, and accelerated aging for long-term operation under physiological conditions.
- Engineer hybrid inorganic/organic barriers and electrode interfaces, using calcium-test structures and accelerated-aging protocols to identify degradation pathways and improve chronic device stability.
EARLIER RESEARCH
Electromagnetic Devices & Wave Engineering
My earlier research explored how engineered geometries and electromagnetic structures shape wave propagation, scattering, and radiation. Through computational modeling, physics-based design, and experimental validation, I developed a structure-field perspective that now informs my work on nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Shanghai Institute of Intelligent Science and Technologies, Tongji University
Mar 2021 – Jul 2024
Undergraduate Research Assistant · PI: Prof. Meisong Tong
PROJECT LEAD
Three-Dimensional Mandelbrot Fractal Antennas
Mathematical formulation → geometry generation → full-wave simulation → modal interpretation → experimental validation
- Developed a generalized mathematical formulation and computational workflow for generating three-dimensional Mandelbrot fractal geometries as realizable antenna structures.
- Combined full-wave simulation with characteristic mode analysis to connect fractal geometry with modal behavior and radiation characteristics.
- Achieved 23% wider bandwidth than the reference design and experimentally validated the result through VNA measurements of a 3D-printed prototype.
PROJECT LEAD
Radar Cross-Section Control & Metamaterial Absorbers
- Developed a zone-based scattering framework to identify dominant contributions and guide fuselage and nose shaping, reducing simulated forward RCS by 37% before absorber integration.
- Designed an X-band double-ring metamaterial absorber achieving >94% absorption, extending the design from geometric shaping to engineered electromagnetic surfaces.
PROJECT LEAD
Broadband Linear-to-Circular Polarization Conversion
- Designed broadband C-shaped metasurfaces and developed equivalent-circuit and transmission-line models to interpret their multi-resonant electromagnetic response.
- Achieved 65% relative bandwidth for linear-to-circular polarization conversion, 25% wider than the reference design.
Publications & Patent
A Novel Broadband Antenna Based on Three-Dimensional Mandelbrot Fractal Geometry
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A Novel Broadband Filtering Wilkinson Power Divider with Great Isolation Performance
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A Novel Design of Microwave Absorbers Based on Multilayered Composite Materials for Reduction of Radar Cross Section
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A Novel Design of X-band Microwave Absorber Based on Metamaterial
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A Novel Broadband Linear-to-Circular Polarization Converter Based on Metamaterials
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PATENT
A Reflective Broadband Line-to-Circular Polarization Converter Based on Symmetric C-structured Metamaterial
Education
University of Pennsylvania
Sep 2023 – May 2025
M.S.E. in Electrical Engineering · Philadelphia, PA
- GPA: 3.97 / 4.0
- Master's Top GPA Award
Selected coursework: semiconductor devices, nanoelectronics, MEMS/NEMS, integrated photonic systems, quantum technology, and analog/RF integrated circuits.
Tongji University
Sep 2019 – Jul 2023
B.E. in Microelectronics Science and Engineering · Shanghai, China
- GPA: 88.39 / 100
- Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis - Sole Recipient (1 of 31)
- First-Prize Outstanding Student Scholarship
Selected coursework: semiconductor physics and devices, analog/digital integrated circuits, electromagnetic waves, high-frequency circuits, IC layout, microwave engineering, and antenna design.
Industry Experience
Engineering experience spanning R&D infrastructure, device prototyping, circuit design, and system-level validation.
Cahira Technologies, Inc.
Aug 2025 – Present
Junior Engineer · MIT spinoff · Cambridge, MA
- Joined as the company's first engineer, establishing R&D workflows and technical infrastructure to translate device concepts into integrated experimental prototypes.
- Co-developed experimental platforms including customized glovebox, probe-station, and thin-film processing systems, integrating fabrication and characterization capabilities for rapid device iteration.
- Coordinate technical execution across materials, device engineering, modeling, and biology while serving as Biosafety and Laser Safety Officer and supporting cross-institutional collaboration.
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
Jun 2024 – Aug 2024
Field Applications Engineer Intern · Shenzhen, China
- Designed and validated a high-power two-phase buck-converter demo board using a constant-on-time controller and custom parallel current-sharing circuit, achieving 97.1% peak efficiency.
- Reconstructed and modeled the controller's mixed-signal architecture to analyze loop stability, transient response, current sharing, and system operating limits.
- Evaluated optical-module architectures and silicon-photonics trends, translating technical findings into system-level analyses for power-electronics applications in optical and semiconductor systems.
Research Capabilities
Experimental and computational capabilities spanning thin-film fabrication, device characterization, multiphysics modeling, and electronic systems.
Micro/Nanofabrication & Thin-Film Processing
Process development and multilayer integration for micro- and nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Processes & Tools
Device Characterization & Interface Analysis
Electrical and optoelectronic characterization, nanoscale morphology and interface analysis, and device-stability evaluation.
Techniques & Tools
Multiphysics & Computational Modeling
Physics-based modeling across electronic, optical, electromagnetic, thermal, and coupled device systems.
Platforms
Methods
Circuits, IC Design & System Prototyping
Analog and mixed-signal IC design, RF/microwave systems, power electronics, PCB development, and hardware prototyping.
Platforms & Tools
Get in Touch
I welcome conversations about nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices, thin-film and emerging semiconductor systems, as well as PhD research opportunities and collaborations.