A new innovation from Boston University’s Zhang Lab could reshape how we manage noise in the modern world.

Their latest development introduces a broadband acoustic silencer that blocks sound while maintaining airflow, making it ideal for busy, unpredictable environments like offices, factories, or airports.

The research, led by Professor Xin Zhang (ME, ECE, BME, MSE), builds on the lab’s long-running work in acoustic metamaterials.

The team first gained attention in 2019 for creating a “sound shield” that could suppress specific frequencies while letting air pass through. Now, they’ve moved beyond narrowband targets.

The latest device, called a Phase Gradient Ultra-Open Metamaterial, or PGUOM, adopts a broader approach.

“PGUOM takes a smarter approach—more like noise-canceling headphones—effectively silencing a broadband of unwanted sounds,” says Zhang. “It remains highly effective even as the noise shifts in pitch or volume.”

That flexibility makes the device especially suited to real-world noise, which often spans multiple frequencies and changes rapidly.

While the new design sacrifices a bit of peak performance, common when moving from narrowband to broadband suppression, it opens up far greater use cases.

How it works

The PGUOM uses a phase-gradient structure to convert incoming sound into spoof surface waves, acoustic equivalents of electromagnetic surface plasmons, which then dissipate along the material’s surface.

Each unit of the material is built from supercells containing three smaller unit cells. The first and third cells feature solid barriers to create specific phase shifts in sound waves. The central cell remains open, preserving airflow through the structure.

Zhang explains, “Our design isn’t one-size-fits-all—and that’s a strength. It’s customizable in both frequency range and airflow level, depending on the application.”

Unlike earlier systems that relied on fixed designs and uniform units, this new structure enlarges the central cell.

That tweak improves airflow without compromising noise reduction, giving the material greater adaptability across systems.

Built for real life

The researchers see strong potential in integrating PGUOM into commercial and industrial products. These include ventilation systems, public infrastructure, and even consumer-facing environments where quiet operation is valued.

The team has already transitioned from simulations to physical prototypes and is working to refine the tech for scalable manufacturing.

“We’re focusing on integrating our designs into specific products and applications, while optimizing the metamaterials for scalable manufacturing processes,” says Zhang.

Further research will focus on expanding the silencing range while keeping resistance to airflow low and structural thickness minimal.

The motivation behind the project is both practical and urgent. “Chronic exposure to excessive noise—often overlooked compared to air and water pollution—can seriously impact human health,” says Zhang.

This includes issues such as hearing loss, stress, sleep disruption, and cardiovascular disease.

Noise pollution also affects wildlife, disturbing natural behaviors and ecosystems. With their PGUOM design, the Zhang Lab is pushing toward a quieter and healthier future where sound control no longer comes at the cost of ventilation or adaptability.