A microwave absorption/infrared dual-band dynamic stealth regulator based on the carbon nanotube film and metamaterial

Abstract

Single-band stealth technology is increasingly inadequate to achieve the demands of the rapidly evolving military environment. To address the joint utilization of multi-band detection technologies, the development of multi-spectrum compatible stealth materials has emerged as a significant trend. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) exhibit excellent electrical conductivity and electrochromic-infrared (EC-IR) emissivity modulation. However, CNT films demonstrate metallic-like properties in the microwave range, exhibiting almost total specular reflection of incident electromagnetic waves. This characteristic complicates the achievement of compatible stealth between infrared (IR) and radar stealth using CNT films. This work proposes a radar-dynamic infrared compatible stealth structure which integrates a CNT electrochromic (EC) device with metamaterial technology. The obtained metamaterial structure in the top layer can realize more than 90 % absorption over 9.67–16.04 GHz, while also providing the infrared emissivity modulation range of 0.323–0.768 in the long-wave infrared (8–14 μm). This study achieves the stealth performance in radar/IR bands, demonstrating the feasibility of the application, providing a new perspective in multispectral independent modulation camouflage and stealth fields.