Scientists in China achieve ‘invisibility’ in chameleon-like colour breakthrough
Molecular changes make material appear to blend seamlessly with its environment, with military and architectural possibilities, study finds
“In other words, applying this technology to clothing could make an individual effectively ‘invisible’,” said lead researcher Wang Dongsheng, in an interview published last week by China Science Daily.
According to Wang and his team from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, the innovation has potential applications in the military, architecture and beyond.
In a study that appeared last month in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances, the researchers said they set out to make active camouflage an intrinsic function of colour-switchable materials, in a process they dubbed self-adaptive photochromism (SAP).
Key to the transformation is a molecular compound that changes its structure when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. To the naked eye, the material appears to blend seamlessly with its environment.
In nature, the chameleon and octopus both rely on active camouflage, altering their appearance to blend into their surroundings. Man-made systems typically achieve the effect through complex electronic devices, resulting in high costs and limited usability.
In contrast, SAP technology offers a simpler and more efficient way to achieve adaptive camouflage effects, without the need for external power sources or intricate electronics, according to the researchers.
