Abstract
A number of marine organisms use muscle-controlled surface structures to achieve rapid changes in colour and transparency with outstanding reversibility. Inspired by these display tactics, we develop analogous deformation-controlled surface-engineering approaches via strain-dependent cracks and folds to realize the following four mechanochromic devices: (1) transparency change mechanochromism (TCM), (2) luminescent mechanochromism (LM), (3) colour alteration mechanochromism (CAM) and (4) encryption mechanochromism (EM). These devices are based on a simple bilayer system that exhibits a broad range of mechanochromic behaviours with high sensitivity and reversibility. The TCM device can reversibly switch between transparent and opaque states. The LM can emit intensive fluorescence as stretched with very high strain sensitivity. The CAM can turn fluorescence from green to yellow to orange as stretched within 20% strain. The EM device can reversibly reveal and conceal any desirable patterns.
Highlights
A number of marine organisms use muscle-controlled surface structures to achieve rapid changes in colour and transparency with outstanding reversibility
The key element is to develop a hybrid bilayer material system consisting of a rigid thin film bonded on a soft substrate to accomplish four different types of mechanochromisms: (1) transparency change mechanochromism (TCM), (2) luminescent mechanochromism (LM), (3) colour alteration mechanochromism (CAM) and (4) encryption mechanochromism (EM)
At different strains (0–20%) under ultraviolet light (l 1⁄4 254 nm), and the corresponding optical microscope images of crack size and distribution at 0 and 20% tensile strain; (c) fluorescent spectra of the CAM as a function of strain;; (d) the change of intensity ratio of Y2O3:Eu3 þ to fluorescein with strain in the CAM and the corresponding experimental and simulated crack size evolution with strain; error bars are defined as s.d.; (e) the colour change of CAM at different strains illustrated in the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (CIE) colour space
Summary
A number of marine organisms use muscle-controlled surface structures to achieve rapid changes in colour and transparency with outstanding reversibility. The device can reversibly exhibit conspicuous visual change between a transparent state and an opaque state upon stretching and releasing within 40% strain (Fig. 1g and Supplementary Movie 1).
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