Infrared adaptive camouflage with a thermal switch enabled by a dual-band metamaterial emitter based on VO₂

With the rapid development of infrared (IR) detection technology, the demand for IR camouflage in military reconnaissance and civilian fields is increasing. Although low-emissivity materials can accommodate high-temperature objects, they cannot allow temperature-variable objects to maintain infrared camouflage at all times in their environment. In this paper, a simple metamaterial structure is used to realize IR adaptive camouflage with a thermal switch. VO₂ is used as a temperature-adaptive switch due to its dynamic modulation properties, which increases the emissivity of the tunable emitter to match the environment in a cold state. The metal phase, in contrast, decreases the emissivity to reduce the radiant energy and achieve IR camouflage. The emission enhancement mechanism of the tunable metamaterials is analyzed and revealed by the magnetic field diagram. The study of radiation power and temperature shows that the tunable infrared camouflage metamaterials can determine their high-emissivity/reflectivity optical properties through the thermal switch, thereby displaying a temperature that is proximate to the ambient and integrating into the environment in an infrared camera. In conclusion, the emitter provides a certain degree of assistance for the development and application of tunable emission devices with broadband in the mid-infrared range.