Optical cages made of graphitic frameworks

TL;DR

This paper explores graphitic cage structures for infrared absorption, demonstrating their potential for applications like EM shielding and energy harvesting through simulations and analysis of their optical properties.

Contribution

It introduces a novel design of graphitic cages with flat IR absorption spectra and analyzes their electromagnetic behavior across different frequencies.

Findings

Achieves flat absorption spectrum with A~0.83 between 10-30 microns

Multiple absorption lines observed at microwave frequencies

Energy funneling in cage-within-cage structures leads to hotter inner cages

Abstract

In pursuit of infrared (IR) radiation absorbers, we examine quasicrystal structures made of graphite wires. An array of graphitic cages and cage-within-cage, and whose overall dimensions is smaller than the radiation wavelength exhibit a flat absorption spectrum, A~0.83 between 10-30 microns and a quality loss factor of L~0.83 (L=A/Q, with Q, the quality factor). Simulations at microwave frequencies show multiple absorption lines. In the case of a cage within cage, energy is funneled towards the inner cage which result in a rather hot structure. Applications are envisioned as anti-fogging surfaces, EM shields and energy harvesting.