A team of Chinese scientists has claimed the development of a groundbreaking camouflage technology that allows rapid color changes in response to its surroundings.
Lead researcher Wang Dongsheng from the University of Electronics Science and Technology of China explained that the breakthrough material uses a combination of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts and organic dyes to achieve color-changing properties.
It operates through a process called self-adaptive photochromism (SAP), in which a molecular compound alters its structure when exposed to specific wavelengths of light.
The material can be applied as a coating to military uniforms and equipment, enabling them to blend seamlessly with their environment.
“The SAP materials are in the primary black state under dark and spontaneously switch to another color upon triggering by transmitted and reflected light in the background,” Wang stated.
Testing and Evaluation
To demonstrate the camouflage tech, the researchers placed a transparent container filled with SAP solution inside translucent acrylic boxes of various colors.
The solution reportedly changed color to match its surrounding environment.
In another experiment, the SAP-filled container was placed in different environments with varying characteristics and colors. The solution blended with its surroundings in as fast as 30 to 80 seconds.
Limitations
Despite its promising potential, the SAP technology has some limitations. For instance, it has difficulty replicating purple and blue.
Wang said his team is already addressing the issue by incorporating more photochromatic molecules.
Additionally, they are working to improve the technology’s color differentiation and transition speed.
China’s Technological Advancements
This is not the first technological breakthrough China has claimed to boost its defense capabilities.
In December 2023, the country unveiled the “Golden Veil,” a technology that makes cruise missiles appear as ordinary passenger planes on enemy radar.
Chinese scientists have also introduced a new type of drone capable of rapidly splitting into six smaller units to overwhelm enemy defenses.