Synthetic Chromatophores for Color and Pattern Morphing Skins
Abstract
Abstract The dynamic optical and mechanical properties of cephalopod skin cannot be mimicked using traditional display technologies. Soft materials (and systems thereof) have the potential to realize cephalopod‐like color switching capabilities synthetically. This report describes the fabrication of stretchable arrays of microstructured, stimuli‐responsive hydrogels, “synthetic chromatophores,” that emulate the mechano‐dynamic action of color change found in cephalopods. By combining multiple layers of these synthetic chromatophores, soft skins with color and pattern morphing capabilities that leverage halftone absorption, optical interference, and microlensing are demonstrated. These skins, made entirely of soft materials, are inherently stretchable and can be programmed to respond to specific environmental stimuli, making them well‐suited for applications in soft robotics and human‐machine interfaces.
Article Details
Authors (6)
Brennan P. Watts
Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln NE 68588 USA
Matthew R. Jamison
Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln NE 68588 USA
John M. Kapitan
Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln NE 68588 USA
Nengjian Huang
Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln NE 68588 USA
Delroy Taylor
Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln NE 68588 USA
Stephen A. Morin
Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln NE 68588 USA