A dynamic thermoregulatory material inspired by squid skin.

ABSTRACT: Effective thermal management is critical for the operation of many modern technologies, such as electronic circuits, smart clothing, and building environment control systems. By leveraging the static infrared-reflecting design of the space blanket and drawing inspiration from the dynamic color-changing ability of squid skin, we have developed a composite material with tunable thermoregulatory properties. Our material demonstrates an on/off switching ratio of ~25 for the transmittance, regulates a heat flux of ~36?W/m² with an estimated mechanical power input of ~3?W/m², and features a dynamic environmental setpoint temperature window of ~8?°C. Moreover, the composite can manage one fourth of the metabolic heat flux expected for a sedentary individual and can also modulate localized changes in a wearer's body temperature by nearly 10-fold. Due to such functionality and associated figures of merit, our material may substantially reduce building energy consumption upon widespread deployment and adoption.

SUBMITTER: Leung EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6488639 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature