Researchers stated that this material could make an individual appear “effectively invisible” when applied to clothing.

In the natural environment, creatures like the chameleon and octopus have mastered the art of camouflage. 

Camouflage is an important military strategy that limits the enemy’s ability to locate and attack other forces.

Now, a team of Chinese researchers has developed an advanced color-switchable material called Self-Adaptive Photochromism (SAP). This new material can change its color in response to its surroundings, similar to a chameleon.

Researchers stated that this material could make an individual appear “effectively invisible” when applied to clothing.

This development was made by researchers led by Wang Dongsheng from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. 

“In the current work, we report active camouflage as an intrinsic function of materials by proposing self-adaptive photochromism (SAP),” the researchers wrote in the study paper. 

Magic of molecular structure

The current man-made active camouflage systems have several limitations. As per the study paper, these systems often involve electronic components, which can lead to complicated structures, poor usability, and high cost. 

The new SAP materials are simpler, more user-friendly, and less expensive.

The key to SAP’s magic lies in its molecular structure, which exhibits color change under ambient light conditions.

When exposed to specific wavelengths of light, the molecules rearrange themselves, causing the material to change color.

In terms of composition, the new materials use a combination of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs) and organic dyes to achieve color-changing properties. 

“The SAP materials are in the primary black state under dark and spontaneously switch to another color upon triggering by transmitted and reflected light in the background,” the study revealed. 

Ideal for military use

As per the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the researchers conducted two experiments to demonstrate the capabilities of SAP materials. 

In the first experiment, a transparent container of SAP solution was placed in colored acrylic boxes (red, green, yellow, and black). The SAP solution changed color to match the color of the surrounding acrylic box.

In the other one, the SAP solution-filled container was placed in environments with matching colors (red, green, or yellow plant clusters). Interestingly, the solution adapted its color to blend seamlessly with the surroundings within 30 to 80 seconds.

The researchers have extended the application of SAP technology to coatings. For this, they combined SAP materials with polycaprolactone (PCL) to create flexible films and coatings that can be applied to different surfaces. 

This could make even solid surfaces capable of adaptive camouflage .

“SAP films and coatings were fabricated by incorporating polycaprolactone and are applicable to a wide variety of surfaces,” the study noted. 

Besides smart coatings, SAP materials have potential in military camouflage systems, architecture, and fashion.

Interestingly, these materials can function accurately in different temperature settings from -20°C to 70°C (minus 4 to 158 Fahrenheit). 

The researchers plan to develop SAP materials further to expand their color range. The current materials can mimic various colors, but they do not yet cover the entire visible spectrum, particularly purple and blue.

“By adding more photochromic molecules to the material or adjusting its composition, we aim to achieve finer distinctions in color, and faster-changing speed,” Wang told SCMP.  

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.

Author: Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.

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