Optically transparent metasurface with infrared-microwave compatible camouflage

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The rapid advancement of detection technologies has underscored the growing significance of multispectral camouflage strategies. Nonetheless, considerable challenges persist due to the conflicting requirements of stealth mechanisms across visible light, infrared, and microwave frequencies. This paper introduces a metasurface capable of multispectral camouflage, which utilizes a coordinated approach that combines sufficient visible light transmission, low infrared emission, and broadband microwave absorption. This integration facilitates compatible camouflage effects across the visible, infrared, and microwave spectra. Transparent materials are utilized to enhance optical compatibility, achieving an optical transparency of 63.5 % within the 400–800 nm wavelength range, thus ensuring a clear display of the camouflage pattern. By meticulously designing the dimensions of the indium tin oxide (ITO) honeycomb patches on the infrared stealth layer (IRSL), we effectively control infrared emissivity, microwave transmittance, and reflectance, thereby integrating infrared stealth with efficient microwave transmission. The infrared emissivity is measured at 0.27 within the 3–14 μm range. Additionally, the IRSL is synergistically coupled with the microwave absorption layer (MAL) and the microwave reflection layer (MRL), resulting in an absorption efficiency exceeding 90 % across a broad bandwidth of 5.53 GHz to 21.39 GHz, while maintaining stability over a wide angle of 50° and exhibiting polarization insensitivity. The designed metasurface demonstrates exceptional stealth performance across the visible, infrared, and microwave bands, indicating substantial application potential in the realm of innovative multispectral-compatible camouflage.