Thermal camouflage based on the phase-changing material GST

TLDR

Thermal camouflage technology is increasingly studied, yet prior experiments have not fully explored continuous camouflage across varying background temperatures or wide observation angles. The study experimentally demonstrates a thermal camouflage device using the phase‑changing material Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST). The device achieves camouflage by tuning its emissivity through GST phase change. Near‑perfect camouflage is achieved continuously across 30–50 °C backgrounds by adjusting GST emissivity, remains robust up to 60° observation angles, and demonstrates dynamic thermal emission control for scientific and practical applications.

Abstract

Camouflage technology has attracted growing interest for many thermal applications. Previous experimental demonstrations of thermal camouflage technology have not adequately explored the ability to continuously camouflage objects either at varying background temperatures or for wide observation angles. In this study, a thermal camouflage device incorporating the phase-changing material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) is experimentally demonstrated. It has been shown that near-perfect thermal camouflage can be continuously achieved for background temperatures ranging from 30 °C to 50 °C by tuning the emissivity of the device, which is attained by controlling the GST phase change. The thermal camouflage is robust when the observation angle is changed from 0° to 60°. This demonstration paves the way toward dynamic thermal emission control both within the scientific field and for practical applications in thermal information.