Thermally Tunable Multistage Emitter for Visible-Infrared Camouflage

Advanced multispectral detection has intensified the demand for dynamic camouflage that operates across visible and infrared bands. Here, we propose a conceptual design of an adaptive multistage emitter based on phase-change materials (VO2/GST/V2O5), that integrates volatile and nonvolatile transitions to achieve multilevel infrared radiation modulation and dynamic visible color regulation. Simulation results demonstrate that the emitter exhibits four-stage negative differential emittance modulation across the 3–14 μm wavelength range, with the average normal emittance decreasing from 0.83 to 0.51 upon heating, while the nonvolatile GST transition introduces an additional state during cooling. These phase-change processes are accompanied by visible structural color switching with weak angular dependence up to 60°. This work offers a numerical basis for developing adaptive multispectral camouflage systems.