The cuttlefish is one of many cephalopods that is able to change its skin color quickly and across a wide spectrum of colors.
Researchers are now working on ways to mimic that action - which cuttlefish accomplish through chemicals changing the space between membrane layers - in order to develop low-energy, low-cost, high-contrast screen displays.
A group of researchers from MIT published a paper in the journal
Advanced Materials, explaining a pixel they developed that can change color based on how much electricity is applied to it, copying color-changing cephalopods with biomimicry.
The prototype pixel is several square inches across, one micron thick, and made up of 20-30 layers of alternating cheap, glassy polystyrene and poly-2 vinyl gel. The screen is clear when no charge is applied, and as electricity is introduced and increased (from 5-10 volts), the gel expands and the color changes.
One drawback to the screen is that is works by reflecting light. If it were used in a dark room, it would not display any color. Reflective screens can also only be viewed at certain angles, primarily head-on.
Other research into reflective screens for use with electronic ink, billboards and other purposes is being done by Microsoft, Sun Chemical Corp., the University of Cincinnati and Cornell University.
Via Discovery News
Cuttlefish - CC license by In Veritas Lux and Shiny Things
