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Chameleon-inspired tunable multi-layered infrared-modulating system via stretchable liquid metal microdroplets in elastomer film

Author

Listed:
  • Yingyue Zhang

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Hanrui Zhu

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Shun An

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Wenkui Xing

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Benwei Fu

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    National Engineering Research Center of Special Equipment and Power System for Ship and Marine Engineering)

  • Peng Tao

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    National Engineering Research Center of Special Equipment and Power System for Ship and Marine Engineering)

  • Wen Shang

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Jianbo Wu

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Michael D. Dickey

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Chengyi Song

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    National Engineering Research Center of Special Equipment and Power System for Ship and Marine Engineering)

  • Tao Deng

    (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    National Engineering Research Center of Special Equipment and Power System for Ship and Marine Engineering)

Abstract

This report presents liquid metal-based infrared-modulating materials and systems with multiple modes to regulate the infrared reflection. Inspired by the brightness adjustment in chameleon skin, shape-morphing liquid metal droplets in silicone elastomer (Ecoflex) matrix are used to resemble the dispersed “melanophores”. In the system, Ecoflex acts as hormone to drive the deformation of liquid metal droplets. Both total and specular reflectance-based infrared camouflage are achieved. Typically, the total and specular reflectances show change of ~44.8% and 61.2%, respectively, which are among the highest values reported for infrared camouflage. Programmable infrared encoding/decoding is explored by adjusting the concentration of liquid metal and applying areal strains. By introducing alloys with different melting points, temperature-dependent infrared painting/writing can be achieved. Furthermore, the multi-layered structure of infrared-modulating system is designed, where the liquid metal-based infrared modulating materials are integrated with an evaporated metallic film for enhanced performance of such system.

Suggested Citation

  • Yingyue Zhang & Hanrui Zhu & Shun An & Wenkui Xing & Benwei Fu & Peng Tao & Wen Shang & Jianbo Wu & Michael D. Dickey & Chengyi Song & Tao Deng, 2024. "Chameleon-inspired tunable multi-layered infrared-modulating system via stretchable liquid metal microdroplets in elastomer film," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-49849-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49849-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yan Jia & Dongqing Liu & Desui Chen & Yizheng Jin & Chen Chen & Jundong Tao & Haifeng Cheng & Shen Zhou & Baizhang Cheng & Xinfei Wang & Zhen Meng & Tianwen Liu, 2023. "Transparent dynamic infrared emissivity regulators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Shun An & Hanrui Zhu & Chunzhi Guo & Benwei Fu & Chengyi Song & Peng Tao & Wen Shang & Tao Deng, 2022. "Noncontact human-machine interaction based on hand-responsive infrared structural color," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Jérémie Teyssier & Suzanne V. Saenko & Dirk van der Marel & Michel C. Milinkovitch, 2015. "Photonic crystals cause active colour change in chameleons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, May.
    4. Erica M. Leung & Melvin Colorado Escobar & George T. Stiubianu & Steven R. Jim & Alexandra L. Vyatskikh & Zhijing Feng & Nicholas Garner & Priyam Patel & Kyle L. Naughton & Maurizio Follador & Emil Ka, 2019. "A dynamic thermoregulatory material inspired by squid skin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Yang Jin & Yiliang Lin & Abolfazl Kiani & Ishan D. Joshipura & Mingqiao Ge & Michael D. Dickey, 2019. "Materials tactile logic via innervated soft thermochromic elastomers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
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