A Triband Metasurface Covering Visible, Midwave Infrared, and Long-Wave Infrared for Optical Security

The independent manipulation of light across multiple wavelength bands provides new opportunities for optical security. Although dual-band optical encryption methods in the visible (VIS) and infrared bands have been developed, achieving synchronized and synergistic optical security across the VIS, midwave infrared (MWIR), and long-wave infrared (LWIR) bands remains a significant challenge. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a triband metasurface that covers the VIS, MWIR, and LWIR bands. While VIS imaging is achieved by structural color, MWIR, and LWIR imaging are achieved by selective emissivity structures, with MWIR/LWIR emissivities in the MWIR imaging region of 0.81/0.17, and in the LWIR imaging region of 0.21/0.83. Importantly, the MWIR and LWIR information is completely hidden in the VIS band. We also validate the ability of metasurface to encode complex information and information-misleading encryption. This work introduces new approaches for enhancing optical security and holds significant potential for applications such as anticounterfeiting and thermal camouflage.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nano Letters
Published
2025-03-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c00083
Citations
16
Primary Topic
Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
15.25

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article

A Triband Metasurface Covering Visible, Midwave Infrared, and Long-Wave Infrared for Optical Security

Xuemei Huang, Zezhao Ju, Wenqi Zhong, Huajie Tang et al.
16 citations
Nano Letters
Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
15.25
article

A Triband Metasurface Covering Visible, Midwave Infrared, and Long-Wave Infrared for Optical Security

Xuemei Huang, Zezhao Ju, Wenqi Zhong, Huajie Tang, Yue Luo, Yaoguang Ma, Chenyue Guo, Hongtao Lin, Wei Li, Fan Fan, Xinyu Zhao, Dongliang Zhao, Qixiang Chen
article en
16 citations

Abstract

The independent manipulation of light across multiple wavelength bands provides new opportunities for optical security. Although dual-band optical encryption methods in the visible (VIS) and infrared bands have been developed, achieving synchronized and synergistic optical security across the VIS, midwave infrared (MWIR), and long-wave infrared (LWIR) bands remains a significant challenge. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a triband metasurface that covers the VIS, MWIR, and LWIR bands. While VIS imaging is achieved by structural color, MWIR, and LWIR imaging are achieved by selective emissivity structures, with MWIR/LWIR emissivities in the MWIR imaging region of 0.81/0.17, and in the LWIR imaging region of 0.21/0.83. Importantly, the MWIR and LWIR information is completely hidden in the VIS band. We also validate the ability of metasurface to encode complex information and information-misleading encryption. This work introduces new approaches for enhancing optical security and holds significant potential for applications such as anticounterfeiting and thermal camouflage.

Nano LettersVol. 25(11)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CN), Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CN), Carbon180 (US), Lumtec (Taiwan) (TW), Ningbo Institute of Industrial Technology (CN), State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instruments (CN), Optica (US), Zhejiang University (CN), Southeast University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
15.25
DOISourceOpenAlex
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