Novel Material Changes Color When Flexed

Mar-16-15 A chameleon-like material able to change color when stressed could have applications in display technology or as a way to monitor the structural soundness of buildings and bridges.

Created by a team from the University of California at Berkeley, the ultra-thin material is made up of tiny ridges that have been etched into a silicon film about 120 nanometers thick. The colors are dictated by the distance between the ridges, which causes the film to change color when flexed, and the material is able to reflect back up to 83 percent of the light—creating crisp, bright colors.

The film can be applied to a variety of surfaces, and the team is currently researching ways to use existing facilities to create the material on a larger scale.

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