Ultra-broadband and high absorbance metamaterial absorber in long wavelength Infrared based on hybridization of embedded cavity modes

Abstract We present a novel ultra-broadband, polarization-independent, and wide-angle metamaterial absorber whose metal–insulator–metal cavities are embedded into bulk insulator nanodisks. The hybridization of multiple embedded cavity modes generated by the combination of dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polaritons waveguide and cavity modes contributes to large bandwidth and high absorption in the long wavelength infrared (LWIR) region. The proposed structure exhibits more than 94% absorbance in the interval from 8 μ m to 16 μ m ; and more than 95% absorbance over the whole LWIR band (8– 14 μ m ), which is superior than the initial MIM structure (absorption greater than 90% from 8.10–14. 33 μ m ) and similar kinds of metamaterial absorber based on noble metal. In addition, a nearly perfect absorbance (more than 99%) is obtained in the 11.22–12. 46 μ m and 13.26–14. 59 μ m wavebands. Moreover, results show that the resonant wavelength and operating bandwidth can be adjusted flexibly by varying related geometry parameters. Thus, the wavelength-selective metamaterial absorber is promising for thermal emitters, energy harvester and microbolometers.