Controlling thermal radiation by metasurface for infrared and laser compatible stealth with radiative cooling

Abstract

Controlling thermal radiation in the infrared (IR) spectrum is pivotal for energy management and military camouflage, sparking heightened research interest. This study introduces a wavelength-selective thermal emitter (WSTE) utilizing a metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) structure composed of an Al/Ge/Al periodic array. The WSTE exhibits low emissivity in the IR atmospheric windows (ɛ_3-5µm = 0.2 and ɛ_8-14µm = 0.2), fulfilling IR camouflage requirements while achieving high emissivity in the non-atmospheric window (ɛ_5-8µm = 0.6) for efficient thermal dissipation to achieve radiative cooling. Furthermore, the WSTE demonstrates strong absorption at 10.6 µm, enhancing its laser stealth capability. Measures data substantiate the alignment between simulations and experiments, showing stable performance at temperatures up to 350 °C. When compared to conventional low-emissivity stealth materials (Al film), the surface temperature of the WSTE could be 18.42 ℃ lower than that of the Al film at 45 W, indicating excellent thermal management capability. The WSTE’s straightforward yet robust design exhibits exceptional high-temperature resistance, ease of fabrication, and scalability for mass production, positioning it as a promising candidate for applications demanding infrared stealth and radiative cooling.