A new type of camouflage skin inspired by amphibians like the wood frog has been developed by a team of researchers from China’s Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications.

To create the new type of camouflage skin, the team employed one-dimensional photonic crystal structures assembled in three-dimensional flexible gels.

Preparation method of PDGI/PAAM (glycerol/water). Source: Advanced Optical Materials. DOI: 10.1002/adom.202302234

According to its developers, the camouflage skin can immediately recognize and subsequently match its background by fine-tuning the optical signals of external stimuli.

The team reported that the camouflage skin demonstrated appropriate mechanical performance and self-adaptive camouflage capabilities in response to its complex surroundings. Further, the material maintained long-term stability in a real-world environment as well as bright structural color and mechanical flexibility — even at temperatures as low as -80° C.

Potential applications for such a material include artificial intelligence, self-adaptive camouflage, soft robotics and flexible wearable electronics, among others, the research team added.

An article detailing the material, “Bio‐Inspired Camouflage Skin with Photonic Crystal Structure and Size‐Confinement Effect,” appears in the journal Advanced Optical Materials.