Optically compatible infrared camouflage performance of ITO ink

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Military Technology

Background:

• Military reconnaissance technology advancements necessitate improved multiband camouflage materials.
• Indium tin oxide (ITO) possesses unique photoelectric properties suitable for electromagnetic wave manipulation.
• ITO's tunable optical characteristics offer potential for broadband and multiband camouflage applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the camouflage mechanism of Indium tin oxide (ITO) across different electromagnetic wavebands.
• To investigate the effect of tin (Sn) doping ratios on ITO's energy band structure and optical properties.
• To develop and evaluate an ITO-based camouflage ink for practical application on fabrics.

Main Methods:

• First-principles calculations were employed to determine the energy band structure, optical properties, and infrared absorption spectra of ITO at various Sn doping levels (x = 0, 1, 2, 3).
• ITO nanodispersion liquid (x = 3) was formulated and mixed with green camouflage coating and additives to create silkscreen printing ink.
• The prepared ITO camouflage ink was applied to fabric via silkscreen printing, and its emissivity and visible light camouflage performance were assessed.

Main Results:

• ITO with a Sn doping ratio of 9.375% (x = 3) demonstrated high transmission in the visible light band and significant reflectivity in the infrared band, enabling compatible infrared camouflage.
• The developed ITO camouflage ink coating, with a solid content of 20%, reduced emissivity by over 0.13.
• The visible light camouflage performance remained largely unaffected by the ITO ink coating.

Conclusions:

• ITO, particularly at a specific Sn doping concentration, is a promising material for achieving effective multiband camouflage.
• The developed ITO-based camouflage ink is suitable for silkscreen printing applications, offering reduced infrared emissivity.
• This research provides a foundation for the application of ITO materials in advanced camouflage technologies.