Controlling the emissivity of a thermal emitter has attracted growing interest,with a view toward a new generation of thermal emission devices.To date,all demonstrations have involved using sustained external electric...Controlling the emissivity of a thermal emitter has attracted growing interest,with a view toward a new generation of thermal emission devices.To date,all demonstrations have involved using sustained external electric or thermal consumption to maintain a desired emissivity.In the present study,we demonstrated control over the emissivity of a thermal emitter consisting of a film of phase-changing material Ge2Sb2Te5(GST)on top of a metal film.This thermal emitter achieves broad wavelength-selective spectral emissivity in the mid-infrared.The peak emissivity approaches the ideal blackbody maximum,and a maximum extinction ratio of 410 dB is attainable by switching the GST between the crystalline and amorphous phases.By controlling the intermediate phases,the emissivity can be continuously tuned.This switchable,tunable,wavelength-selective and thermally stable thermal emitter will pave the way toward the ultimate control of thermal emissivity in the field of fundamental science as well as for energy harvesting and thermal control applications,including thermophotovoltaics,light sources,infrared imaging and radiative coolers.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant nos 61425023,61575177,61275030 and 61235007).
文摘Controlling the emissivity of a thermal emitter has attracted growing interest,with a view toward a new generation of thermal emission devices.To date,all demonstrations have involved using sustained external electric or thermal consumption to maintain a desired emissivity.In the present study,we demonstrated control over the emissivity of a thermal emitter consisting of a film of phase-changing material Ge2Sb2Te5(GST)on top of a metal film.This thermal emitter achieves broad wavelength-selective spectral emissivity in the mid-infrared.The peak emissivity approaches the ideal blackbody maximum,and a maximum extinction ratio of 410 dB is attainable by switching the GST between the crystalline and amorphous phases.By controlling the intermediate phases,the emissivity can be continuously tuned.This switchable,tunable,wavelength-selective and thermally stable thermal emitter will pave the way toward the ultimate control of thermal emissivity in the field of fundamental science as well as for energy harvesting and thermal control applications,including thermophotovoltaics,light sources,infrared imaging and radiative coolers.
