China has developed a material for an invisibility cloak: it changes color to match its surroundings without using electricity

Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak has become closer to reality. In China, they have created an innovative material that, without an external power source, can change color depending on the environment in order to blend in with it and be invisible against its background.

Image Source: TechSpot

In nature, chameleons and octopuses have the ability to change body color, actively using this to camouflage themselves from predators and hunt. People can already replicate this ability using artificial materials, but traditionally they have required bulky, complex and expensive electronic systems. Scientists from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in Chengdu managed to overcome these barriers with the help of their own development – self-adaptive photochromism (SAP) technology.

The development is based on the ability of a molecular compound to rearrange itself under the influence of certain wavelengths of light. As a result, the material can change color without the need for external power supplies or complex electronics. According to the project’s lead scientist, Wang Dongsheng, clothing made from such material “can make a person virtually invisible.”

To illustrate the technology’s capabilities, the researchers filled a clear container with SAP solution and placed it in different colored clear acrylic boxes. As a result, the solution adapted to the color of its surroundings, demonstrating the ability to change color.

The researchers also tested the SAP solution in a natural environment surrounded by colorful plants. The solution container adapted to its surroundings, changing color in just 30–80 seconds. A team of scientists has developed sprayable coatings that can be applied to physical objects, allowing them to blend into the background within a minute.

According to a study published in Science Advances, the material using SAP offers great opportunities in areas such as fashion and camouflage. In addition, such a material has sufficiently high strength, allowing it to be used for military and construction needs, while maintaining “flawless” functionality at extreme temperatures from -20 to 70 ° C.