In a recent study, scientists have made significant progress in camouflage technology by introducing octopus-inspired deception and signaling systems. These systems utilize a stable nonacene-like molecule with potential applications across diverse fields.
Deception and signaling systems involve mechanisms for dynamic modulation of color and appearance, designed to deceive or signal observers by altering their visible and near-infrared characteristics.
Professor Alon Gorodetsky from the University of California, the senior author of the study, highlighted the team's motivation: "My group has a long-standing fascination with the appearance-changing abilities of cephalopods, and this interest has inspired and driven much of our work."
The research draws inspiration from the blue-ringed octopus, specifically Hapalochlaena lunulata, renowned for its small size, distinctive blue rings, and poisonous nature. The octopus can dynamically alter its appearance, displaying various ring patterns that correlate with its surroundings.
To replicate these characteristics, researchers utilized a novel nonacene-like molecule named tetrabenzononacene (TBN). This molecule, with a linear arrangement of nine ortho-annulated benzene rings, demonstrated remarkable stability and dynamic appearance changes upon actuation.
The researchers successfully applied TBN in a quad-layer dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) device, creating an octopus-inspired system capable of changing appearance and signaling in the visible and near-infrared regions.
Noteworthy characteristics of the DEA devices include substantial areal strains, rapid response times, and surprising stability. The devices can undergo significant and controlled deformations, ensuring effective modulation of their visible and near-infrared characteristics.
Professor Gorodetsky expressed surprise at the devices' stability, stating, "We were surprised by the general stability of our devices when operating continuously in the air and by their ability to self-repair after failure without any user intervention."
The self-repair mechanism of the devices involves the conversion of the nonacene-like molecule and/or acrylic elastomer into an insulating material, ensuring functionality even after damage.
These octopus-inspired devices, retaining their actuation-dependent appearances after over two years, showcase promising longevity and reliability in practical applications. Professor Gorodetsky emphasized their suitability for camouflage, signature management, displays, anti-counterfeiting, sensing, imaging, energy conservation, and robotics.
As the research team explores the scalability of these devices, they envision expanding their applications and contributing to the next generation of deception and signaling platforms.
