Research progress on vanadium-based oxide radar and infrared stealth materials

Radar and infrared stealth materials play a crucial role in enhancing the stealth performance of equipment. In recent years, vanadium-based oxides have shown broad application prospects in the field of radar and infrared stealth due to their unique thermochromic phase transition properties and excellent infrared radiation modulation capabilities. This paper summarizes the research progress of vanadium-based oxide radar and infrared stealth materials at home and abroad. From three dimensions of multi-component design, structural regulation and element doping modification, it systematically elaborates on the performance optimization methods and mechanisms of vanadium dioxide, vanadium trioxide and vanadium pentoxide-based stealth materials. Furthermore, this paper proposes five key directions for future research on vanadium-based oxide stealth materials: (1) the design of new heterostructure, which aims to overcome the inherent defects of vanadium-based oxides through structural regulation to enhance stealth performance; (2) artificial intelligence-assisted material design, which will utilize machine learning to model the composition-structure-performance relationships and accurately predict performance parameters, thereby shortening the material development cycle; (3) the synergistic optimization of multiple loss mechanisms, intended to couple conductive loss, dielectric loss and magnetic loss for synergistic enhancement, maximizing the improvement of stealth performance; (4) the characterization of complex interfaces, which focuses on strengthening interface characterization to reveal the wave-absorbing mechanism of composite systems in view of the complex interfaces caused by rich valence states; (5) broadband adaptive stealth, which involves developing stealth materials with both broadband and adaptive response capabilities based on thermally induced phase transition characteristics.