Scientists Develop Novel Ink Inspired by Camouflaging Cephalopods
A team of researchers from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has developed a groundbreaking ink that mimics the camouflage abilities of cephalopods, such as squids and octopuses. The ink, composed of colorful microbeads, adapts to the appearance of received light through light-driven separation.
Cephalopods are known for their remarkable ability to change color and blend seamlessly into their surroundings. This camouflage is achieved through the manipulation of pigment particles in their skin, which are folded or unfolded by radial muscles in response to shifts in the environmental light settings.
Inspired by this natural phenomenon, Dr. Jinyao Tang and his team at HKU collaborated with scientists from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Xiamen University to develop a wavelength-selective intelligent colloid system. This system allows for light-controlled multi-dimensional phase segregation.
The team created dynamic photochromic nanoclusters by mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow microbeads, resulting in macroscopic photochromism. The microbeads undergo light-induced vertical phase stratification, enriching the colored microbeads that correspond to the incident spectrum. Unlike existing color-changing materials, this new ink rearranges existing pigments rather than generating new ones, making it more reliable and programmable.
The implications of this breakthrough are vast. The ink has potential applications in electronic ink, displays, and active optical camouflage. The researchers’ findings were published in the prestigious academic journal Nature.
In addition to this novel ink, the team also explored the development of self-actuated active particles, which could be used in biomedical applications such as drug delivery and non-invasive surgery. While the structure of these particles is simple, their driving mechanism and environment perception are limited. To overcome this challenge, the researchers developed a light-powered microswimmer system that allows for controllable nanorobots.
By combining incident light of different wavelengths and intensities, the researchers were able to control the particle-particle interaction in these microswimmers, resulting in on-demand particle segregation. This breakthrough could lead to the development of intelligent active particles with various applications.
Dr. Jinyao Tang expressed excitement about the research findings, stating that they contribute significantly to advancing our knowledge of swarm intelligence in artificial active materials. Furthermore, this breakthrough paves the way for innovative active smart materials, including programmable photochromic ink that could be used in e-ink, display ink, and active optical camouflage ink.
The study, titled “Photochromism from wavelength-selective collagen phase segregation,” was published in Nature and provides valuable insights into the potential of these new technologies.
With the development of these groundbreaking innovations, the possibilities for advanced materials and applications are expanding, opening up new opportunities in various industries.