Polarization insensitive phase change material-based nanoantenna array for thermally tunable infrared applications

Abstract

Thermal radiation management is an emerging application of metamaterials owing to their exotic electromagnetic radiative properties. Herein, a thermally tunable phase change material-based nanoantenna array is reported to manipulate electromagnetic waves for potential applications in radiative cooling and multispectral camouflage from thermal infrared detectors. The simulation results show that the proposed nanoantenna array possesses high reflectance exceeding at least 60% within the 3−5 µm and 8−12 µm wavelength ranges, indicating low thermal emissivity, while the reflectance value increases as the temperature rises. Additionally, the wavelength-selective nanoantenna emitter operates with high absorption and therefore emission within the non-atmospheric window (5−8 µm). The thermally tuning feature leads to further controlling the absorption and, therefore, the emission performance of the nanoantenna and corresponding infrared signatures detected by thermal cameras.