Laser‐Adaptive Inverse‐Design Metamaterials for Durable Regulation from Visible‐Infrared‐LiDAR Compatible Camouflage to Optical Limiter
Xinpeng Jiang, Jie Nong, Xin Li, Xinye Liao, Junxiang Zeng, Shishang Luo, Zhaojian Zhang, Te Du, Huan Chen, Xin He, Yang Yu, Zhenfu Zhang, Sen Zhang, Dongqing Liu, Jiagui Wu, Junbo Yang
Abstract
Abstract Multiband compatible camouflage (MCC) has emerged as a critical technology for synchronizing visible (VIS, 400–760 nm), infrared (IR), and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) camouflage. However, the inherent trade‐off between LiDAR camouflage's high absorptivity and its resultant laser‐induced thermal damage severely limits practical deployment. Laser‐adaptive metamaterials (LAMs) are pioneered, synergizing phase‐change materials with inverse‐design photonics to achieve broadband VIS‐IR camouflage consistency (low VIS reflectance: 0.29; low IR emissivity: 0.29 at 3–5 µm, 0.24 at 8–14 µm), adaptive switching between LiDAR camouflage (absorption: 0.81/0.93/0.78 at 1.06/1.55/10.6 µm) and optical limiter (modulation contrast >2.5×) without external controls, and on‐demand thermal management via tunable wavelength‐selective emission in the non‐atmospheric windows. The VO 2 ‐based LAM exhibits second response (≈1 s) and long‐life durability (>30 000 cycles), while the In 3 SbTe 2 ‐based counterpart demonstrates record performance: color mimicry, 4.5× spectral modulation, 16 ns ultrafast switching, and laser damage thresholds exceeding 50 kW cm −2 . This work establishes a universal paradigm for adaptive narrowband‐broadband hybrid photonic systems, with transformative implications for next‐generation camouflage technologies, radiative cooling, and multiband optoelectronic integration.