Whole-infrared-band camouflage with dual-band radiative heat dissipation

Abstract

Advanced multispectral detection technologies have emerged as a significant threat to objects, necessitating the use of multiband camouflage. However, achieving effective camouflage and thermal management across the entire infrared spectrum, especially the short-wave infrared (SWIR) band, remains challenging. This paper proposes a multilayer wavelength-selective emitter that achieves effective camouflage across the entire infrared spectrum, including the near-infrared (NIR), SWIR, mid-wave infrared (MWIR), and long-wave infrared (LWIR) bands, as well as the visible (VIS) band. Furthermore, the emitter enables radiative heat dissipation in two non-atmospheric windows (2.5–3 μm and 5–8 μm). The emitter’s properties are characterized by low emittance of 0.270/0.042/0.218 in the SWIR/MWIR/LWIR bands, and low reflectance of 0.129/0.281 in the VIS/NIR bands. Moreover, the high emittance of 0.742/0.473 in the two non-atmospheric windows ensures efficient radiative heat dissipation, which results in a temperature decrement of 14.4 °C compared to the Cr reference at 2000 W m−2 input power density. This work highlights the role of solar radiance in camouflage, and provides a comprehensive guideline for developing multiband camouflage compatible with radiative heat dissipation, from the visible to LWIR.