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Enhanced far-field coherent thermal emission using mid-infrared bilayer metasurfaces
Sichao Li1, Robert E Simpson2, Sunmi Shin1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Collage of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore. mpeshin@nus.edu.sg.
Nanoscale
|August 9, 2023
Summary
Researchers quantified heat transfer in nanoribbons, revealing enhanced thermal emission. This enhancement, driven by polaritonic heat transfer in germanium antimonide telluride, opens new avenues in mid-infrared optics and thermal engineering.
Area of Science:
- Nanoscale thermal transport
- Mid-infrared optics
- Solid-state physics
Background:
- Classical thermal sources follow Planck's law, but sub-wavelength sources enable super-Planckian radiation.
- Coupling photons and optical phonons in specialized materials can tailor thermal emission.
- Understanding heat transfer in these novel systems remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify radiated and conducted heat transfer mechanisms in a germanium antimonide telluride/silicon dioxide nanoribbon structure.
- To investigate the role of polaritonic heat transfer in enhancing thermal emission.
- To bridge the gap between mid-infrared optics and thermal engineering.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel measurement platform to quantify thermal signals.
- Separated and quantified radiated and conducted heat transfer.
- Stimulated thermal gradients via Joule heating from 100 to 400 K.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a 3.5× enhancement in thermal emission from germanium antimonide telluride/silicon dioxide nanoribbons compared to bare silicon dioxide.
- Attributed the emission enhancement to polaritonic heat transfer.
- Confirmed the role of the material's large, lossless dielectric permittivity at mid-infrared frequencies.
Conclusions:
- Polaritonic heat transfer significantly enhances thermal emission in nanostructures.
- Germanium antimonide telluride is a promising material for tailored mid-infrared thermal emission.
- This work provides crucial insights into heat transfer phenomena at the nanoscale.
