Like other cephalopods, tropical fish, and chameleons, squids also have periodic photonic nanostructures. It gives them the ability to change their skin color in response to external stimuli, as well as for camouflage, communication and courtship.

Details of the invention

Squids have thousands of cells called chromatophores.

• They are located directly under the surface of the skin and are connected to the nervous system of the animal.
• In the center of the chromatophore is an elastic bag filled with pigment.
• Muscle contractions control the size of the chromatophores by changing the color of the squid skin.
• Reflectin proteins are responsible for the dynamic pigmentation and iridescence of the animal, and they refract light.

Researchers from Dalian University of Technology simulated the location of the reflection to form a new photon-ion skin in the squid skin. When exposed to external stimuli, its nanostructure causes a rapid color change. At the same time, ion transport in the skin is altered, allowing mechanical and temperature stimuli to be converted into electrical signals. So the sensor changes color when the load, pressure and temperature change.

Wanting to improve the skin’s properties, they added glycerol monolaurate and polyethylene glycol 200, a compound with strong antimicrobial properties. can withstand low temperatureswithout freezing.