The material is inspired by the adaptive skin of squids. The material allows users to control their warmth, with the potential to be used in performance clothing.
The research team, led by Alon Gorodetsky, developed this material by mimicking the chromatophores in squid skin. These specialised cells enable squids to change their color and pattern by expanding or contracting. However, instead of light, the team’s fabric regulates infrared radiation—the heat that our bodies naturally emit. As the material is stretched, it separates tiny copper islands embedded in the polymer base, altering how the fabric transmits infrared light, thus controlling the wearer’s temperature.
“Squid skin is complex, consisting of multiple layers that work together to manipulate light and change the animal’s overall coloration and patterning,” said author Alon Gorodetsky. “Some of the layers contain organs called chromatophores, which transition between expanded and contracted states (upon muscle action) to change how the skin transmits and reflects visible light.”
The fabric’s flexibility and adjustability mean it could find a range of applications in everyday wear, especially in outdoor gear like ski jackets, gloves, and other thermal apparel. But what makes this innovation even more exciting is its breathability, washability, and ability to integrate with existing fabrics without compromising on performance.
The researchers achieved this by layering a thin, protective film onto the fabric, ensuring it withstands washing without degradation. They also perforated the material to make it breathable, offering air and water vapor permeability comparable to cotton. This means the fabric not only manages heat but also maintains comfort, making it ideal for activewear.
Tests conducted with infrared spectroscopy and dynamic thermoregulation methods showed that even with these enhancements, the fabric retained its heat-controlling properties. Beyond clothing, the team believes that the manufacturing techniques used to create this fabric could be applied to other wearable technologies, like stretchable electronics and energy-harvesting textiles.
As Gorodetsky explains, the potential of this squid-inspired fabric extends far beyond clothing, “The strategies used for endowing our materials with breathability, washability, and fabric compatibility could be translated to several other types of wearable systems, such as washable organic electronics, stretchable e-textiles, and energy-harvesting triboelectric materials,” he says.
