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Stretchable Cephalopod‐Inspired Multimodal Camouflage Systems
Author(s) -
Xu Chengyi,
Colorado Escobar Melvin,
Gorodetsky Alon A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201905717
Subject(s) - camouflage , materials science , multispectral image , photonics , transmittance , specular reflection , electromagnetic spectrum , fabrication , metamaterial , biomimetics , nanotechnology , soft robotics , infrared , optoelectronics , computer science , optics , artificial intelligence , robot , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , pathology
Soft, mechanically deformable materials and systems that can, on demand, manipulate light propagation within both the visible and infrared (IR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum are desirable for applications that include sensing, optoelectronics, robotics, energy conservation, and thermal management. However, the development of such technologies remains exceptionally difficult, with relatively few examples reported to date. Herein, this challenge is addressed by engineering cephalopod‐inspired adaptive camouflage platforms with multispectral functionality. First, stretchable copolymer membranes that feature outstanding unstrained protonic conductivities of up to ≈90 mS cm −1 , demonstrate increases of ≈80% in their conductivities at strains of 200%, and exhibit no loss in electrical performance even under extreme elongations of 500% are described. Next, the membranes are used for the fabrication of mechanically and electrically actuated camouflage devices that function over an unprecedented spectral window; can simultaneously modulate their visible and IR specular‐to‐diffuse transmittance ratios by >3000‐fold and >4‐fold, respectively; feature rapid response times of ≈0.6 s; and exhibit good performance after repeated actuation. These findings may afford new scientific and technological opportunities not only for adaptive optics and photonics but also for any platform that can benefit from simultaneously controlling visible light and heat.