# Radiative metamaterials based on effective-medium theory

**Authors:** Haohan Tan, Liujun Xu  
**arXiv:** [2309.12770](https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.12770)  
**Date:** 2023-09-22  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2309.12770v1/

## Key points

- Thermal metamaterials have focused on thermal conduction, but it is important to consider thermal radiation as well
- The review paper discusses advancements in radiative thermal metamaterials using effective-medium theory
- Potential applications and research directions are explored from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives
- Diffusion metamaterials have evolved into multi-functional and temperature-dependent devices with enhanced functionalities
- Further investigations should focus on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of radiative heat transfer at the nanoscale level

## Summary

Thermal metamaterials have made significant advancements in recent decades, primarily focusing on the thermal conduction mechanism. To overcome this limitation and expand their application scope, it is crucial to consider thermal radiation as another important thermal transport mechanism, especially in high-temperature regimes when designing thermal devices. In a review paper by Haohan Tan and Liujun Xu from Fudan University and the Graduate School of China Academy of Engineering Physics, the authors present advancements in the field of radiative thermal metamaterials. They specifically focus on research conducted using the effective-medium theory which allows for a better understanding of how radiative properties can be manipulated at the macroscopic level. The authors explore potential applications of radiative thermal metamaterials and discuss prospective research directions from a microscopic perspective. They highlight that research on diffusion metamaterials has evolved from single-function devices to multi-functional ones and from linear to nonlinear response. Additionally, there has been a shift towards temperature-dependent devices with enhanced functionalities. The outlook for radiative metamaterials from a microscopic view is promising; further investigations should focus on understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind radiative heat transfer at the nanoscale level. Overall, this review paper provides valuable insights into the advancements in radiative thermal metamaterials and offers new perspectives for future research in this exciting field.