A functionality switchable meta-device: from perfect reflection to perfect absorption

Abstract

AbstractTunable meta-devices trigger immense interest in many applications like biosensing, thermal camouflage, radiative cooling, thermal emitting, infrared imaging, and energy harvesting. This paper presents a polarization-independent broadband tunable absorbing and reflecting meta-device using a phase change material Germanium-Antimony-Tellurium (GST). The proposed design manifests high absorptivity >80% over a broadband range of wavelength spanning the mid-IR regime. Furthermore, by changing the phase of GST material from crystalline to amorphous with the help of external stimuli, the absorbance of the device was reduced to almost zero in the range from 4μm to 12μm. To previse the angular constancy of the meta-absorber, the absorptivity was scrutinized under different incidence angles in both transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) polarizations which manifested the robustness of the proposed meta-absorber. As a result, the proposed absorber has tunable broadband absorbance and angular stability, which proclaim great potential in applications such as thermal camouflage, radiation detection, thermal emitter, and stealth technology, etc.