Metamaterial-Selective Emitter for Maximizing Infrared Camouflage Performance with Energy Dissipation

TLDR

Camouflage blends an object into its surroundings, and artificial infrared camouflage uses metamaterial‑selective absorber/emitter (MSAE) designs, yet the interplay of reduced emission, energy dissipation, and thermal instability in MSAE remains poorly understood. The study investigates MSAE for infrared camouflage by evaluating energy balance, proposes an integrated performance factor and design guideline, and aims to broaden applications such as energy harvesting and sensing. Using atmospheric transmittance, the authors define detected IR bands (3–5 µm and 8–14 µm) and an undetected band (5–8 µm), then experimentally and computationally determine the optical properties that control emissive power for camouflage. They identify a factor that governs emissive power, formulate an integrated performance metric based on energy balance, and provide a design guideline to maximize infrared camouflage effectiveness.

Abstract

Camouflage is a method evading predators in nature by assimilating into the environment. To realize an artificial camouflage surface for displays and sensors, many researchers have introduced several concepts including a metamaterial-selective absorber/emitter (MSAE). When an MSAE is adopted for camouflage at infrared (IR) wave, the energy dissipation of reduced emitting energy, as well as the reduction of emitting energy to deceive the IR signature from the surface, must be considered from the viewpoint of energy balance due to thermal instability. The integrated investigation of radiative heat-transfer characteristics and IR signature control of MSAE remains, however, poorly understood. Here, we investigate MSAE for IR camouflage by considering the energy balance in terms of reduction of emitting energy and dissipation of reduced emitting energy. On the basis of the atmospheric transmittance at an IR band, we designate the detected band as having wavelengths of 3-5 and 8-14 μm and the undetected band as having a wavelength of 5-8 μm. We investigate, via experiments and simulations, the optical characteristics required for IR camouflage and extract the factor that controls the emissive power. Furthermore, we suggest an integrated factor for evaluating the camouflage performance based on the concept of energy balance and propose a design guideline for MSAE with the aim of maximizing the camouflage performance at the IR band. This study will help to expand the range of applications (such as energy harvester and sensors) and others that are based on selective absorption/emission.