An intermediate modulator enhanced the near-field thermal radiation of semiconductor vanadium dioxide

We theoretically investigate a three-body near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) system, which consists of three separated parallel plates with different temperatures and certain vacuum spacing. The emitter (body1) and the receiver (body3) are both composed of a monolayer graphene and a VO2 film covered by semi-infinite bulk SiO2. The intermediate (body2) has a composite graphene/VO2/graphene heterostructure. The steady temperature of body2 can be determined based on the fact that the near-field radiative heat flow (NFRHF) emitted by body1 is equal to that received by body3 at thermal steady state. NFRHF can be highly tuned by changing the vacuum gap and the chemical potential of graphene in the three-body system. This paper can provide theoretical guidance for experimental and practical applications of near-field thermal radiation, and are significant for the applications of NFRHT structures containing intermediates in the field of temperature control.