Electrically tunable phase-change metasurface for dynamic infrared thermal camouflage

Dynamic infrared thermal camouflage technology has attracted extensive attention due to its ability to thermally conceal targets in various environmental backgrounds by tuning thermal emission. The use of phase change materials(PCMs) offers numerous advantages, including zero static power, rapid modulation rate, and large emissivity tuning range. However, existing PCM solutions still encounter several practical application challenges, such as temperature uniformity, amorphization achievement, and adaptability to different environments. In this paper,we present the design of an electrically controlled metal-insulator-metal thermal emitter based on a PCM metasurface, and numerically investigate its emissivity tunability, physical mechanisms, heat conduction, and thermal camouflage performance across different backgrounds. Furthermore, the influence of the quench rate on amorphization was studied to provide a guidance for evaluating and optimizing device structures. Simulation results reveal that the thermal emitter exhibits a wide spectral emissivity tuning range between 8 and 14 μm, considerable quench rates for achieving amorphization, and the ability to provide thermal camouflage across a wide background temperature range. Therefore, it is anticipated that this contribution will promote the development of PCM-based thermal emitters for practical dynamic infrared thermal camouflage technology with broad applications in both civilian and military domains.