Open AccessDesign of multilayer planar film structures for near-perfect absorption in the visible to near-infrared
Author(s) -
Hong Cai,
Mengwei Wang,
Zhuohui Wu,
Xiaoping Wang,
Jing Liu
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.469855
Subject(s) - materials science , finite difference time domain method , optics , absorption (acoustics) , planar , transfer matrix method (optics) , reflection (computer programming) , broadband , resonance (particle physics) , optoelectronics , transmittance , physics , computer science , particle physics , composite material , programming language , computer graphics (images)
In this work, a near-perfect broadband absorber, consisting of Fe, MgF 2 , Fe, TiO 2 and MgF 2 planar film, is proposed and investigated through simulations and experiments. The Fe material is first applied in the multilayer film structure, and it is proved to be more favorable for achieving broadband absorption. MgF 2 and TiO 2 are chosen as anti-reflection coatings to decrease unwanted reflections. The proposed absorber is optimized by employing a hybrid numerical method combining the transfer matrix method (TMM) and the genetic algorithm (GA). Under normal incidence conditions, the average absorption of the absorber is 97.6% in the range of 400 to 1400 nm. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and phase analysis reveal that the anti-reflection property and the Fabry-Perot resonance result in broadband absorption performance. Furthermore, when an additional Fe-MgF 2 layer is inserted on the bottom Fe layer, an average absorption of 97.9% in the range of 400 to 2000 nm can be achieved. Our approach could be of vital significance for numerous applications involving solar energy.