Integrated and spectrally selective thermal emitters enabled by layered metamaterials
Gong Yongkang,
Li Kang,
Copner Nigel,
Liu Heng,
Zhao Meng,
Zhang Bo,
Pusch Andreas,
Huffaker Diana L.,
Oh Sang Soon
Affiliations
Gong Yongkang
School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
Li Kang
Wireless and Optoelectronics Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Cardiff, CF37 1DL, UK
Copner Nigel
Foshan Huikang Optoelectronics Ltd., B Block, Sino-European Center, Foshan 528315, China
Liu Heng
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Heat Fluid Flow Technology and Energy Application, School of Physical Science and Technology, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China
Zhao Meng
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Heat Fluid Flow Technology and Energy Application, School of Physical Science and Technology, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China
Zhang Bo
Wireless and Optoelectronics Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Cardiff, CF37 1DL, UK
Pusch Andreas
School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
Huffaker Diana L.
School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
Oh Sang Soon
School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
Nanophotonic engineering of light–matter interaction at subwavelength scale allows thermal radiation that is fundamentally different from that of traditional thermal emitters and provides exciting opportunities for various thermal-photonic applications. We propose a new kind of integrated and electrically controlled thermal emitter that exploits layered metamaterials with lithography-free and dielectric/metallic nanolayers. We demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally that the proposed concept can create a strong photonic bandgap in the visible regime and allow small impedance mismatch at the infrared wavelengths, which gives rise to optical features of significantly enhanced emissivity at the broad infrared wavelengths of 1.4–14 μm as well as effectively suppressed emissivity in the visible region. The electrically driven metamaterial devices are optically and thermally stable at temperatures up to ∼800 K with electro-optical conversion efficiency reaching ∼30%. We believe that the proposed high-efficiency thermal emitters will pave the way toward integrated infrared light source platforms for various thermal-photonic applications and particularly provide a novel alternative for cost-effective, compact, low glare, and energy-efficient infrared heating.
