Infrared camouflage utilizing phase-change materials with high scattering and tunable emissivity

In complex environments, infrared camouflage within the long-wave infrared range is essential for modern defense and surveillance applications, requiring precise control over both radiative and scattering properties of military targets. For practical implementation, developing surfaces that integrate dynamic emissivity control, low specular reflectance, and scalable fabrication processes remains a significant challenge. Here, a novel infrared camouflage device is proposed to simultaneously achieve low specular reflectance (<0.1) and dynamic infrared camouflage. The device seamlessly blends into backgrounds with temperatures ranging from 35°C to 45°C by tuning the emissivity of the device, which is attained by controlling the Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 phase change. In addition, it reflects almost no surrounding thermal signals compared with the conventional low-emissivity smooth surface. The thermal camouflage remains effective and stable across observation angles ranging from 20° to 60°. This work proposes a novel approach to simultaneously reducing specular reflection and dynamic emissivity control, potentially inspiring future research and applications in multispectral camouflage and stealth technology.