Electromagnetic Nanonetworks Beyond 6G: From Wearable and Implantable Networks to On-chip and Quantum Communication

TL;DR

This paper surveys electromagnetic nanonetworks, tracing advances from nanoscale sensing and energy harvesting to EM communication across optical, terahertz, and radio bands, and expanding into on-chip networks and quantum computing contexts. It discusses nano-radio architectures, radiative and non-radiative technologies, and their suitability for IoNT, computing packages, and quantum interconnects, highlighting cross-layer design, prototyping, and security as core challenges. Key contributions include a synthesis of graphene-based THz plasmonics, magnetoelectric antennas, optical nano-antennas, and non-radiative coupling methods, plus a discussion of testbeds and standardization gaps. The work emphasizes bridging nano and macro scales and outlines future directions for scalable, energy-efficient, and secure EM nanonetworks that can support 6G and beyond.

Abstract

Emerging from the symbiotic combination of nanotechnology and communications, the field of nanonetworking has come a long way since its inception more than fifteen years ago. Significant progress has been achieved in several key communication technologies as enablers of the paradigm, as well as in the multiple application areas that it opens. In this paper, the focus is placed on the electromagnetic nanonetworking paradigm, providing an overview of the advances made in wireless nanocommunication technology from microwave through terahertz to optical bands. The characteristics and potential of the compared technologies are then confronted with the requirements and challenges of the broad set of nanonetworking applications in the Internet of NanoThings (IoNT) and on-chip networks paradigms, including quantum computing applications for the first time. Finally, a selection of cross-cutting issues and possible directions for future work are given, aiming to guide researchers and practitioners towards the next generation of electromagnetic nanonetworks.

Figures (8)

• Figure 1: Organization of this paper, from key communication technologies to emerging applications and cross-cutting issues.
• Figure 2: Summary of wave-based key communication technologies for nanonetworks discussed in this survey.
• Figure 3: Coarse assessment of the communication requirements of the four nanonetworking application areas analyzed in this survey paper.
• Figure 4: The Internet of Nano-Things. From left to right: individual nanomachines communicate with each other creating nanonetworks; through a nano-router that serves as a nano-to-macro interface, nanonetworks can be connected to the macro-scale networks and eventually the Internet.
• Figure 5: Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with biological systems, as a function of frequency. From left to right: radiowaves and microwaves perceive the human body as a single entity; terahertz-band radiation interacts with the human body at the organ and tissue levels; optical radiation can interact with cells and their building blocks.