Solar energy full-spectrum perfect absorption and efficient photo-thermal generation

Designing and manufacturing cost-effective absorbers that can cover the full-spectrum of solar irradiation is still critically important for solar harvesting.Utilizing control of the lightwave reflection and transmission,metamaterials realize high absorption over a relatively wide bandwidth.Here,a truncated circular cone metasurface(TCCM)composed of alternating multiple layers of titanium(Ti)and silicon dioxide(SiO_(2))is presented.Enabled by the synergetic of surface plasmon resonances and Fabry-Pérot resonances,the TCCM simultaneously achieves high absorptivity(exceed 90%),and absorption broadband covers almost the entire solar irradiation spectrum.In addition,the novel absorber exhibits great photo-thermal property.By exploiting the ultrahigh melting point of Ti and SiO_(2),high-efficiency solar irradiation absorption and heat release have been achieved at 700℃when the solar concentration ratio is 500(i.e.,incident light intensity at 5×10^(5) W/m^(2)).It is worth noting that the photo-thermal efficiency is almost unchanged when the incident angle increases from 0°to 45°.The outstanding capacity for solar harvesting and light-to-heat reported in this paper suggests that TCCM has great potential in photothermal therapies,solar desalination,and radiative cooling,etc.

Coherent Perfect Absorption in Higher Order Systems

We investigate the phenomenon of coherent perfect absorption in a high-order system with three passive resonators coupled to a super-surface to form this three-state coherent perfect absorber. The effective parity time (PT) symmetry in the passive system has received much attention, and in this open three-state PT symmetric system, the incident wave is used as the effective gain instead of balancing the material gain and loss. We analyze the variation of coherent perfect absorption of this system with the coupling coefficient of the system by simulation.

Reconfigurable metamaterial for asymmetric and symmetric elastic wave absorption based on exceptional point in resonant bandgap

Elastic wave absorption at subwavelength scale is of significance in many engineering applications.Non-Hermitian metamaterials show the ability in high-efficiency wave absorption.However,the single functionality of metamaterials is an important limitation on their practical applications for lack of tunability and reconfigurability.Here,we propose a tunable and reconfigurable non-Hermitian piezoelectric metamaterial bar,in which piezoelectric bars connect with resonant circuits,to achieve asymmetric unidirectional perfect absorption(UPA)and symmetric bidirectional perfect absorption(PA)at low frequencies.The two functions can be arbitrarily switched by rearranging shunted circuits.Based on the reverberation-ray matrix(RRM)method,an approach is provided to achieve UPA by setting an exceptional point(EP)in the coupled resonant bandgap.By using the transfer matrix method(TMM)and the finite element method(FEM),it is observed that a non-Hermitian pseudo-band forms between two resonant bandgaps,and the EP appears at the bottom of the pseudo-band.In addition,the genetic algorithm is used to accurately and efficiently design the shunted circuits for desired low-frequency UPA and PA.The present work may provide new strategies for vibration suppression and guided waves manipulation in wide potential applications.

Achieving a multi-band metamaterial perfect absorber via a hexagonal ring dielectric resonator

A multi-band absorber composed of high-permittivity hexagonal ring dielectric resonators and a metallic ground plate is designed in the microwave band. Near-unity absorptions around 9.785 GHz, 11.525 GHz, and 12.37 GHz are observed for this metamaterial absorber. The dielectric hexagonal ring resonator is made of microwave ceramics with high permittivity and low loss. The mechanism for the near-unity absorption is investigated via the dielectric resonator theory. It is found that the absorption results from electric and magnetic resonances where enhanced electromagnetic fields are excited inside the dielectric resonator. In addition, the resonance modes of the hexagonal resonator are similar to those of standard rectangle resonators and can be used for analyzing hexagonal absorbers. Our work provides a new research method as well as a solid foundation for designing and analyzing dielectric metamaterial absorbers with complex shapes.

Computer Simulation of the Electronic Structures and Absorption Spectra for a KMgF3 Crystal Containing a Potassium Vacancy

CASTEP code,based on the density functional theory(DFT)Electronic structures and absorption spectra for a perfect KMgF_(3)crystal and a KMgF_(3)crystal containing a potassium vacancy V_(K)^(-)are optimized using the CASTEP density functional theory code.The calculated results indicate that the perfect KMgF_(3)crystal has no absorption in the visible energy region,however,a KMgF_(3)crystal containing V_(K)^(-)has an additional absorption band peaking at 565 nm,fitting well with the experimental result that KMgF_(3)irradiated by an electron has an additional absorption peak at 565 nm.It is reasonably predicted that the 565 nm absorption band is related to the existence of V_(K)^(-)in the KMgF_(3)crystal created by the electron irradiation.

Metamaterial terahertz device with temperature regulation function that can achieve perfect absorption and complete reflection conversion of ultrawideband

The field of terahertz devices is important in terahertz technology.However,most of the current devices have limited functionality and poor performance.To improve device performance and achieve multifunctionality,we designed a terahertz device based on a combination of VO_(2)and metamaterials.This device can be tuned using the phase-transition characteristics of VO_(2),which is included in the triple-layer structure of the device,along with SiO_(2)and Au.The terahertz device exhibits various advantageous features,including broadband coverage,high absorption capability,dynamic tunability,simple structural design,polarization insensitivity,and incidentangle insensitivity.The simulation results showed that by controlling the temperature,the terahertz device achieved a thermal modulation range of spectral absorption from 0 to 0.99.At 313 K,the device exhibited complete reflection of terahertz waves.As the temperature increased,the absorption rate also increased.When the temperature reached 353 K,the device absorption rate exceeded 97.7%in the range of 5-8.55 THz.This study used the effective medium theory to elucidate the correlation between conductivity and temperature during the phase transition of VO_(2).Simultaneously,the variation in device performance was further elucidated by analyzing and depicting the intensity distribution of the electric field on the device surface at different temperatures.Furthermore,the impact of various structural parameters on device performance was examined,offering valuable insights and suggestions for selecting suitable parameter values in real-world applications.These characteristics render the device highly promising for applications in stealth technology,energy harvesting,modulation,and other related fields,thus showcasing its significant potential.

Dual-symmetry-perturbed all-dielectric resonant metasurfaces for high-Q perfect light absorption

We demonstrate a high-Q perfect light absorber based on all-dielectric doubly-resonant metasurface.Leveraging bound states in the continuum(BICs)protected by different symmetries,we manage to independently manipulate the Q factors of the two degenerate quasi-BICs through dual-symmetry perturbations,achieving precise matching of the radiative and nonradiative Q factors for degenerate critical coupling.We achieve a narrowband light absorption with a>600 Q factor and a>99%absorptance atλ_(0)=1550 nm on an asymmetric germanium metasurface with a 0.2λ_(0)thickness.Our work provides a new strategy for engineering multiresonant metasurfaces for narrowband light absorption and nonlinear applications.

Terahertz Perfect Absorber Based on Asymmetric Open-Loop Cross-Dipole Structure

Equipped with multiple and unique features,a terahertz absorber exhibits great potential for use in the development of communication,military,and other fields where achieving perfect broadband absorption has always been a challenge.We present a metamaterial terahertz(THz)absorber comprising a cross-dipole patch,four symmetric square patches and an asymmetric open-loop patch with a good perfect absorption rate for TE and TM polarizations.The average absorption of more than 96%occurs in the frequency range from 2.4 THz to3.8 THz,in which the absorptance peak can reach 99.9%,as indicated by simulated results.Our design has broad potential applications in THz couplers,as well as in fields like biology and security.

等离激元银金属膜耦合氮化硅纳米空腔在可见光-近红外区间的多谱带完美吸收和传感性质的仿真研究

具有多谱带完美吸收效应的超构材料在光学滤波和折射率传感等多种应用中是理想的材料。提出了一种由银金属上的氮化硅介电纳米空腔阵列组成的多谱带窄带完美吸收超构材料。有限元仿真给出了四个最高可达99.9%的吸收峰,以及最小达到0.74 nm的吸收峰宽。这些吸收谱带来自于表面晶格模式和三个表面等离激元极化子模式。此外,这些模式的谱峰对超构材料几何外形和环境介质光学参数的变化敏感,从而在可见光-近红外范围内可以被调控。用于折射率传感时,其具有347 nm每折射率单位的灵敏度,Figure of Merit达到469。这些特性令这一材料适用于光学滤波器和折射率传感器等用途。

基于非厄米声学超材料的宽带相干完美吸收

相干完美吸收只能在特定共振频率处或窄带实现完美吸收,这极大地限制了其在实际应用中发挥作用。近年来,非厄米调制和声学超材料的引入为复杂声波操控提供了全新的研究思路,并由此产生了许多在天然结构中难以实现的新颖的波与物质的相互作用。本文提出一种非厄米声学亚波长腔管耦合模型,理论推导并展示了相干完美吸收的演化过程。通过调控系统的非厄米参数实现了两个相干完美吸收的简并,简并处带宽平均因子为12.825,且在输出谱图上观测到与之相应的宽带完美吸收特性。本文工作为基于非厄米声学超材料实现宽带相干完美吸收提供了一种新的途径,同时也为开发用于宽带声吸收、声检测等工程应用领域的新型功能性器件奠定了理论基础。

基于法布里-珀罗腔的可调谐连续域束缚态及应用

优异的光学吸收器一直具备着高品质因数和完美吸收的特性,然而,这类吸收器通常会受到传统表面等离子体共振带来的欧姆损耗,制约其在实际应用中的吸收性能.本文提出了一种基于法布里-珀罗腔的可调谐连续域束缚态(bound state in the continuum,BIC),通过调整模型的参数,可将BIC可以转变为准BIC,在连续谱中实现了100%的完美吸收.在本文中,采用干涉理论探究了影响完美吸收的因素,用耦合模理论和阻抗匹配理论对准BIC进行理论计算,采用电场和磁场理论解释了吸收器完美吸收的物理机制.与传统吸收器相比,该吸收器具有优异的结构参数鲁棒性和广泛的BIC调控范围.更重要的是,该吸收器具有出色的传感性能,其最大灵敏度可达34 nm/RIU,最大品质因数为9.5.最后,该吸收器还实现了双频的开光性能,其中双频开关的最大调制深度和最小插入损耗分别为99.4%和0.0004 dB.这些研究结果在光子学、光通信、传感器技术等领域具有重要意义.

Ultrawide dynamic modulation of perfect absorption with a Friedrich–Wintgen BIC

Dynamical control of perfect absorption plays an indispensable role in optical switch and modulators.However,it always suffers from the limited modulation range,small depth,and susceptible absorption efficiencies.Here,we propose a new strategy based on Friedrich–Wintgen bound states in the continuum(F–W BICs)to realize a tunable perfect absorber with large dynamic modulation range.For proof of concept,we demonstrate a pentaband ultrahigh absorption system consisting of graphene gratings and graphene sheets through elaborately tuning F–W BIC.The nature of the F–W BIC arises from the destructive interference between Fabry–Perot resonance and guided mode resonance modes in the coherent phase-matching condition.The radiation channels are avoided from crossing.The BIC can be dynamically modulated by engineering the Fermi level of graphene gratings,which breaks the traditional modulation methods with an incidence angle.Remarkably,the perfect absorber with this F–W BIC approach achieves the largest modulation range of up to 3.5 THz.We believe that this work provides a new way to dynamically engineer perfect absorption and stimulates the development of multiband ultracompact devices.

Perfect absorption in a monolayer graphene at the near-infrared using a compound waveguide grating by robust critical coupling

We present a perfect graphene absorber with a compound waveguide grating at the near-infrared. The analytical approach is mainly based on the coupled leaky mode theory, which turns the design of the absorber to finding out the required leaky modes supported by the grating structure. Perfect absorption occurs only when the radiative loss of the leaky mode matches the intrinsic absorption loss, which is also named the critical coupling condition.Furthermore, we also demonstrate that the critical coupling of the system can be robustly controlled, and the perfect absorption wavelength can be easily tuned by adjusting the parameters of the compound waveguide grating.

Tuning the metal filling fraction in metal-insulator-metal ultra-broadband perfect absorbers to maximize the absorption bandwidth

In this paper, we propose a methodology to maximize the absorption bandwidth of a metal-insulator-metal(MIM) based absorber. The proposed structure is made of a Cr-Al_2O_3-Cr multilayer design. At the initial step,the optimum MIM planar design is fabricated and optically characterized. The results show absorption above 0.9 from 400 nm to 850 nm. Afterward, the transfer matrix method is used to find the optimal condition for the perfect light absorption in an ultra-broadband frequency range. This modeling approach predicts that changing the filling fraction of the top Cr layer can extend light absorption toward longer wavelengths. We experimentally proved that the use of proper top Cr thickness and annealing temperature leads to a nearly perfect light absorption from 400 nm to 1150 nm, which is much broader than that of a planar design. Therefore, while keeping the overall process lithography-free, the absorption functionality of the design can be significantly improved. The results presented here can serve as a beacon for future performance-enhanced multilayer designs where a simple fabrication step can boost the overall device response without changing its overall thickness and fabrication simplicity.

Topological bound state in the continuum induced unidirectional acoustic perfect absorption

The interaction between cavity field and atoms plays an important role in exploring the abundant non-Hermitian physics and constructing powerful wave function devices.In this work,we propose theoretically and realize experimentally unidirectional perfect absorption in a non-Hermitian acoustic system with the help of the topological bound state in the continuum(BIC),which is established by the hybrid interaction between one trivial BIC and another conventional resonant state.In the 2D parameter space spanned by frequency and distance between the two resonators,the topological scattering singularities appear in pairs and are associated with topological distinguished charges.Meanwhile,we reveal the origin of topological charges and their continuous evolution with the loss factor.At a specific loss factor,two topological charges just annihilate together,and acoustic perfect absorption induced by topological BIC is realized at the left incidence,while there is no phase singularity and near-total reflection is observed at the right incidence,hence the system presents extreme asymmetry.Our work bridges the gap between scattering characteristics of non-Hermitian acoustic systems and topological scattering singularities,which may contribute to the research of novel non-Hermitian physics and the practical applications of advanced absorbers and sensors.

Angle-selective perfect absorption with two-dimensional materials

Two-dimensional(2D)materials have great potential in photonic and optoelectronic devices.However,the relatively weak light absorption in 2D materials hinders their application in practical devices.Here,we propose a general approach to achieve angleselective perfect light absorption in 2D materials.As a demonstration of the concept,we experimentally show giant light absorption by placing large-area single-layer graphene on a structure consisting of a chalcogenide layer atop a mirror and achieving a total absorption of 77.6%in the mid-infrared wavelength range(~13μm),where the graphene contributes a record-high 47.2%absorptivity of mid-infrared light.Construction of such an angle-selective thin optical element is important for solar and thermal energy harvesting,photo-detection and sensing applications.Our study points to a new opportunity to combine 2D materials with photonic structures to enable novel device applications.

Tunable coherent perfect absorption in three-dimensional Dirac semimetal films

In this article,we investigate the phenomenon of coherent perfect absorption(CPA)with bulk Dirac semimetal(BDS)thin film.CPA of BDS appears at the frequency of 43.89 THz with 0°phase modulation of two coherent input lights.Meanwhile,it shows that CPA can be realized under oblique incidence circumstances for both TM and TE polarizations.Moreover,the frequency of CPA can be adjusted by altering the thickness of BDS thin film,and the dynamic regulation of CPA can be realized by changing the Fermi energy.Finally,the peak coherent absorption frequency can be controlled by changing the degeneracy factor.

基于石墨烯互补超表面的可调谐太赫兹吸波体

通过在石墨烯超表面设计周期性切条,实现了基于石墨烯互补超表面的可调谐太赫兹吸波体.通过改变外加电压来改变石墨烯的费米能级,吸波体实现频率可调谐特性.研究了石墨烯费米能级、结构尺寸对超材料吸波体吸收特性的影响,并利用多重反射理论研究了其物理机理并且证明了模拟方法的可行性.研究结果表明:当石墨烯费米能级取0.6 eV,基底厚度13μm,石墨烯上切条长宽分别为2.9μm,0.1μm时,吸波体在1.865 THz可以实现99.9%的完美吸收;石墨烯费米能级从0.4 eV增大到0.9 eV,吸波体共振频率从1.596 THz蓝移到2.168 THz,且伴随共振吸收率的改变,吸收率在0.6 eV时达到最大;通过改变费米能级实现的最大吸收率调制度达84.55%.

基于超材料的微波宽带完美吸波体设计

为了实现宽带平稳吸收电磁波,本工作设计了一种微波宽带完美超材料吸波体(Metamaterial absorber,MA)。使用等效电路模型和COMSOL仿真软件对其结构参数进行了优化仿真,通过电场和表面电流密度分布以及等效输入阻抗分析了MA宽带强吸收的机理,研究了其极化和斜入射特性以及各层结构的吸收响应。结果表明,电磁波正入射时MA在5~9.2 GHz的频率范围内达到了90%以上的吸收率,平均吸收率高达97.71%,特别是在5.9~8 GHz的宽带内实现了完美吸收电磁波(吸收率大于99%,反射率小于1%),并且具有良好的极化和宽入射角稳定特性。本工作提出的吸波结构整体厚度为0.12λ_(0),周期单元尺寸为0.29λ_(0)×0.29λ_(0)(λ_(0)为吸收带中心频率的波长),通过改变中间介质层的介电常数能在保证波形基本不变的前提下调节工作频带,其具有良好的频带可移植性,能够应用于隐身技术和电磁兼容等领域。

电磁波斜入射到单层吸波材料上的最佳吸收条件

研究了平面电磁波斜入射到涂有单层吸波材料的导电平板情况,并分别就垂直和平行两种极化讨论了最佳吸收条件.文中给出了典型计算曲线和若干结论.