A visible-infrared-compatible camouflage photonic crystal with heat dissipation by radiation in 5–8 μm

Abstract

Owing to surface structural constraints and thermal management requirements, visible-infrared-compatible camouflage for a high-temperature target remains challenging. Here, we introduce a two-dimensional periodic aperture array into a ZnO/Ag/ZnO film to create a visible-infrared-compatible camouflage photonic crystal with thermal management capacity by using the optical transmission in a dielectric/metal/dielectric (D/M/D) structure. Because of the high visible transmittance of the D/M/D structure, when applied to a visible camouflage coating, the lower coating can be displayed, realizing visible camouflage. Due to the perforated Ag layer, both low emittances in 3–5 and 8–14 μm for infrared camouflage and high transmission in 5–8 μm for heat dissipation by radiation are achieved. The experiments demonstrate that this photonic crystal exhibits high-temperature infrared camouflage in both atmospheric windows and it is much cooler than an Al film subjected to the same heating power.