A Triband Metasurface Covering Visible, Midwave Infrared, and Long-Wave Infrared for Optical Security

The independent manipulation of light across multiple wavelength bands provides new opportunities for optical security. Although dual-band optical encryption methods in the visible (VIS) and infrared bands have been developed, achieving synchronized and synergistic optical security across the VIS, midwave infrared (MWIR), and long-wave infrared (LWIR) bands remains a significant challenge. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a triband metasurface that covers the VIS, MWIR, and LWIR bands. While VIS imaging is achieved by structural color, MWIR, and LWIR imaging are achieved by selective emissivity structures, with MWIR/LWIR emissivities in the MWIR imaging region of 0.81/0.17, and in the LWIR imaging region of 0.21/0.83. Importantly, the MWIR and LWIR information is completely hidden in the VIS band. We also validate the ability of metasurface to encode complex information and information-misleading encryption. This work introduces new approaches for enhancing optical security and holds significant potential for applications such as anticounterfeiting and thermal camouflage.