Lithography-free transparent spacecraft smart radiation device based on phase change material VO₂

As the complexity of spacecraft operations in extreme space environments escalates, the development of a device that can simultaneously manage thermal radiation while maintaining transmission to visible light becomes critically important. Such devices not only effectively shield spacecraft against drastic temperature fluctuations but also preserve the necessary lighting conditions for visibility in both the internal and external environments of the spacecraft. To meet this need, we have engineered a lithography-free transparent smart radiation device (TSRD) based on a dielectric/metal/dielectric (D/M/D) structure and phase change material vanadium dioxide (VO₂). Through the multilayer interference and the reflecting qualities of various metals, the D/M/D structure can achieve high infrared light reflection and transparency to visible light. This tunable radiation characteristic is primarily influenced by the phase transition properties of the VO₂ film. The combination of the highly infrared reflection D/M/D structure and the dielectric layer BaF₂, which can form a Fabry-Perot (FP) resonance on the VO₂ layer, significantly enhancing the device's radiation tuning performance. With an emission modulation capability of 0.631, a solar absorption as low as 0.219, and a visible light transmission of up to 0.7, this device underscores the formidable potential of VO₂ and DMD structures in the realm of thermal radiation modulation. We believe the designed TSRD device has significant potential for spacecraft thermal control systems.