Multispectral stealth structures for simultaneous visible-infrared stealth and efficient heat dissipation

Abstract

Multispectral compatible stealth technologies are critically important in complex warfare environments, as they can effectively deceive various types of detection equipment, including visible light cameras and infrared thermal imagers. However, the integration of multiple stealth functionalities entails increasingly complex design requirements, posing significant challenges to the design of multispectral stealth structures. Herein, a metamaterial structure, composed of single-layer grating and multilayer films, are successfully designed to achieve visible-infrared stealth and efficient heat dissipation. This metamaterial supports visible stealth (0.38–0.78 μm), two–band infrared stealth for both 3–5 μm and 8–14 μm bands and enhances heat dissipation via two non-detection bands at 5–8 μm and 14–17 μm as well. This is demonstrated through the possibility of designing surfaces with different colors matching with background environment while simultaneously achieving minimal emissivity in the 3–5 μm and 8–14 μm bands (only 0.15 and 0.22, respectively) and significant emissivity in the non-detection bands at 5–8 μm and 14–17 μm (reaching 0.79 and 0.72, respectively). This research not only offers theoretical insights for designing metamaterial that combines visible–infrared stealth and heat dissipation but also provides valuable ideas and methodologies for the broader field of radiation regulation research.