1. Dynamic multifunctional devices enabled by ultrathin metal nanocoatings with optical/photothermal and morphological versatility.
- Author
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Songshan Zeng, Zhuoran Yang, Zaili Hou, Cheonjin Park, Jones, Michael D., Hao Ding, Kuangyu Shen, Smith, Andrew T., Jin, Henry X., Bing Wang, Han Jiang, and Luyi Sun
- Subjects
NANOCOATINGS ,STRAINS & stresses (Mechanics) ,ELECTROCHROMIC windows ,STRUCTURAL colors ,STRUCTURAL design - Abstract
Inspired by the intriguing adaptivity of natural life, such as squids and flowers, we propose a series of dynamic and responsive multifunctional devices based on multiscale structural design, which contain metal nanocoating layers overlaid with other micro-/nanoscale soft or rigid layers. Since the optical/photothermal properties of a metal nanocoating are thickness dependent, metal nanocoatings with different thicknesses were chosen to integrate with other structural design elements to achieve dynamic multistimuli responses. The resultant devices demonstrate 1) strain-regulated cracked and/or wrinkled topography with tunable light-scattering properties, 2) moisture/photothermal-responsive structural color coupled with wrinkled surface, and 3) mechanically controllable light-shielding properties attributed to the strain-dependent crack width of the nanocoating. These devices can adapt external stimuli, such as mechanical strain, moisture, light, and/or heat, into corresponding changes of optical signals, such as transparency, reflectance, and/or coloration. Therefore, these devices can be applied as multistimuli-responsive encryption devices, smart windows, moisture/photothermal-responsive dynamic optics, and smartphone app-assisted pressure-mapping sensors. All the devices exhibit high reversibility and rapid responsiveness. Thus, this hybrid system containing ultrathin metal nanocoatings holds a unique design flexibility and adaptivity and is promising for developing next-generation multifunctional devices with widespread application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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