Recent Developments in Nanophotonics Manipulating Thermal Radiation Spectra

ABSTRACT The ability of manipulating thermal radiation (ThRa) spectra plays a crucial role in advancing technologies. Conventional ThRa inherently exhibits broadband, non‐polarized, and incoherent characteristics. Recent advancements in nanophotonic structures and metasurfaces have provided innovative solutions for precise ThRa control. Characterized by their subwavelength scale, nanophotonic structures exhibit ThRa properties distinct from traditional emitters. These structures can precisely control the ThRa's wavelength, polarization, coherence, and angular distributions. Additionally, infrared (IR) camouflage, a critical component of modern stealth technology, has also benefited from these advancements. Conventional thermal emitters often fail to effectively conceal targets across multiple spectral bands, making them unsuitable for multispectral camouflage. By leveraging nanophotonic structures, researchers have achieved selective and dynamic thermal emission control, allowing objects to seamlessly blend into their IR environment. This capability extends from single‐band IR camouflage to multispectral‐compatible and even dynamic IR camouflage applications, where emission properties can adapt in real time to changing environments. These advancements are made possible by the precise spectral control offered by nanophotonic structures. Spectral manipulation of ThRa is transforming IR technologies, from enhancing energy efficiency to redefining stealth capabilities, with broad practical applications.