Tunable nanophotonic multilayer structures to control mid-infrared atmospheric windows

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a novel nanophotonic multilayer structure comprising graphene, polymer, and PbSe to modulate electromagnetic waves within mid-IR atmospheric windows. Through finite-difference time-domain analysis and micro-genetic algorithms, we achieve a tunable perfect absorber, with optimized control over absorption and emission in the mid-IR range. By adjusting the graphene's chemical potential from 0 eV to 1 eV, we demonstrate a dynamic shift in peak absorptance from 4 µm to 4.22 µm and maintain high absorption at incident angles up to 52 degrees, marking significant advancements in mid-IR radiation management.