Adjustable Trifunctional Mid-Infrared Metamaterial Absorber Based on Phase Transition Material VO2

In this paper, we demonstrate an adjustable trifunctional absorber that can achieve the conversion of broadband, narrowband and superimposed absorption based on the phase transition material vanadium dioxide (VO2) in the mid-infrared domain. The absorber can achieve the switching of multiple absorption modes by modulating the temperature to regulate the conductivity of VO2. When the VO2 film is adjusted to the metallic state, the absorber serves as a bidirectional perfect absorber with switching capability of wideband and narrowband absorption. The superposed absorptance can be generated while the VO2 layer is converted to the insulating state. Then, we introduced the impedance matching principle to explain the inner mechanism of the absorber. Our designed metamaterial system with a phase transition material is promising for sensing, radiation thermometer and switching devices.

Automated summary

In this paper, an adjustable trifunctional absorber using vanadium dioxide (VO2) as the phase transition material is demonstrated to achieve broadband, narrowband and superimposed absorption in the mid-infrared domain. The absorption modes can be switched by modulating the temperature to regulate the conductivity of VO2. The absorber functions as a bidirectional perfect absorber with wideband and narrowband absorption in the metallic state of VO2, while superposed absorptance can be generated when VO2 is in the insulating state. The inner mechanism of the absorber is explained using the impedance matching principle. The designed metamaterial system shows promising applications in sensing, radiation thermometers, and switching devices.