Broadband, High-Temperature Stable Reflector for Aerospace Thermal Radiation Protection

A simple and thermally stable photonic heterostructure exhibiting high average reflectivity (< R > approximate to 88.8%) across a broad wavelength range (920-1450 nm) is presented. The design combines a thin, highly reflective and broadband metallic substrate (Ta) with an optimized dielectric coating (10 layers) to create an enhanced reflector with improved optical and thermal properties compared to its constituents. The heterostructure exhibits temperature-reversible reflective properties up to 1000 degrees C. In order to take advantage of the high reflectivity and temperature stable properties of this coating, in a wide range of non-photonic composite materials, we have fabricated heterostructure platelets as additives. By impregnating these additives into other types of materials, their response can be photonically enhanced. Platelets of such a heterostructure have been introduced inside an organic matrix to increase its broadband reflection performance. The platelet-impregnated matrix displays an average reflectivity improvement from 5% to an average of 55% over a 1000 nm range, making it a suitable additive for next generation thermal protection systems (TPS).