Theoretical simulation and mechanisms of SmNiO3-based phase change metamaterial for mid-infrared dynamic thermal control

Abstract

Dynamic thermal emission control has gained increasing attention across diverse fields. Among phase change materials (PCMs), SmNiO3 has attracted many interests because of its fast phase transition and non-volatile properties. However, constructing an emissivity modulation metamaterial with angle stability performance is still rather challenging. In this work, we propose three kinds of SmNiO3-based metamaterials for mid-infrared emissivity dynamic modulation, specifically a trapezoidal metamaterial consisting of alternating SmNiO3 and Si multi-layer thin films and two modified grating metastructures, realizing an average emissivity modulation Δεaver of 0.42–0.45 in 5–16 µm. It is confirmed that the magnetic resonance stimulated inside the metamaterial is because of the slow-light effect. This work provides theoretical fundamentals for the design of dynamic thermal control metamaterials and benefits applications in the fields of infrared emission modulation.