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Adaptive Metaskins for Active and Passive Thermal Camouflage
Qingkai Chen1,2, Shijun Zhao1,2, Yu Han1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 16, 2025
Summary
This study introduces an adaptive metaskin for dynamic thermal camouflage, effectively concealing objects in both hot and cold environments. The dual-mode system utilizes a plasmonic MXene metasurface and liquid crystal elastomer for tunable emissivity.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Dynamic thermal camouflage aims to conceal objects by matching their infrared signature to the background.
- Existing systems struggle with diverse thermal environments, performing poorly on both hot and cold backgrounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an adaptive metaskin for effective thermal camouflage across varied environmental conditions.
- To enable dynamic thermal radiation management for enhanced concealment.
Main Methods:
- Synergistic integration of a plasmonic MXene metasurface with a reprogrammable liquid crystal elastomer.
- Development of a dual-mode (active/passive) system for emissivity modulation.
- Characterization of emissivity tunability range (≈41%) and response time (1.2 s).
Main Results:
- The metaskin demonstrates effective camouflage in both active (cold backgrounds) and passive (hot backgrounds) modes.
- Achieved a wide, continuously tunable emissivity range and rapid temperature response.
- Maintained low infrared contrast (4.7 °C) in hot environments (50-120 °C) and concealed objects across a wide range (20-120 °C) in cold environments.
Conclusions:
- The adaptive metaskin overcomes limitations of current thermal camouflage technologies.
- The dual-mode design offers a novel solution for dynamic thermal radiation management.
- This technology opens new avenues for advanced camouflage and thermal control applications.
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