Dynamically Temperature-Voltage Controlled Multifunctional Device Based on VO2 and Graphene Hybrid Metamaterials: Perfect Absorber and Highly Efficient Polarization Converter

Abstract

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is a temperature phase change material that has metallic properties at high temperatures and insulation properties at room temperature. In this article, a novel device has been designed based on the dielectric metasurface consisting of VO2 and graphene array, which can achieve multiple functions by adjusting temperature and voltage. When the temperature is high (340 K), the device is in the absorption state and its absorptivity can be dynamically controlled by changing the temperature. On the other hand, the device is in the polarization state under room temperature, and the polarization of electromagnetic waves can be dynamically controlled by adjusting the voltage of graphene. This device can achieve a broadband absorber (the maximum absorptance reaches 99.415% at wavelengths ranging from 44 THz to 52 THz) and high polarization conversion efficiency (>99.89%) in the mid-infrared range, which has great advantages over other single-function devices. Our results demonstrate that this multifunctional device may have widespread applications in emitters, sensors, spatial light modulators, IR camouflages, and can be used in thermophotovoltaics and wireless communication.