Wide-temperature-range multispectral camouflage enabled by orientation-gradient co-optimized microwave blackbody metastructure coupled with conformal MXene coating

• Published in: Materials horizons Vol. 1; no. 9; pp. 344 - 3415
• Main Authors: Yao, Li, Pan, Longkai, Zhou, Shixiang, Liu, Hongxia, Mei, Hui, Li, Yang, Dassios, Konstantinos G, Colombo, Paolo, Cheng, Laifei, Zhang, Litong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 29.08.2023
• Subjects: Blackbody; Camouflage; Coordinate transformations; Genetic algorithms; Lidar; Metamaterials; Microwave absorption; MXenes; Orientation; Room temperature; Stealth technology; Temperature
• ISSN: 2051-6347; 2051-6355
• DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00611e

Cloaking against electromagnetic detection is a well-researched topic; yet achieving multispectral camouflage over a wide temperature range remains challenging. Herein, an orientation-gradient co-optimized graded Gyroid-shellular (GGS) SiOC-based metastructure with a conformal MXene coating (M@SiOC) is proposed to achieve wide-temperature-range microwave/infrared/visible-light-compatible camouflage. Firstly, the combination of coordinate transformation and genetic algorithm endows the GGS architecture with optimal orientation and gradient, allowing superior microwave blackbody-like behavior. Secondly, a microwave-transparent, low-infrared-emissivity MXene metasurface is constructed in situ to permit wide-temperature-range infrared camouflage. Finally, the outstanding spectral selectivity of MXene enables camouflage against 1.06 μm-lidar and visible-light detection. As a result, the as-fabricated [110]-oriented GGS M@SiOC metamaterials exhibit outstanding wide-temperature-range multispectral camouflage: (i) ultrabroadband microwave absorption exceeding 80% in the X-Ku band from room temperature (RT) to 500 °C with absorption above 86.0% (91.4% on average) at 500 °C; (ii) excellent long-wavelength infrared camouflage for object temperatures from RT to 450 °C, reaching an infrared signal intensity of 78.5% for objects at 450 °C; and (iii) camouflage against both 1.06 μm-lidar and dark environment. Compared with traditional hierarchical metamaterials necessitating complex micro/nano-fabrication processes, this work provides a novel pathway toward the realization of structurally integrated multispectral stealth components by combining flexible metastructure design and high-fidelity additive manufacturing. An orientation-gradient co-optimized graded Gyroid-shellular (GGS) SiOC-based metastructure with conformal MXene coating (MXene@SiOC) is proposed to achieve wide-temperature-range microwave/infrared/1.06 μm-laser/visible-light-compatible camouflage.