journal article·2026-07Open access

Pholidota‐Inspired Electronic Skin Possessing Terahertz‐Wave Reflection–Absorption–Transmission Switchability

Shangjing Li, Jiangsong Hou, Yifeng Ruan, Jiang Du, Jun Qiu

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 37

Abstract

ABSTRACT The escalating complexity of electromagnetic environments demands intelligent materials capable of real‐time adaptive electromagnetic responses to reconcile conflicting requirements for stealth, transmission, and shielding. Current electromagnetic protection systems face two bottlenecks: static material characteristics limit the active switching of reflection (R), absorption (A), and transmission (T) states, and the contradiction among the three hinders their dynamic coexistence. To address this challenge, a self‐adaptive reflection–absorption–transmission switchable electronic skin (RATS‐E‐skin) was designed to harmonize perception with terahertz‐wave switchability. Inspired by pholidota, the RATS‐E‐skin combines flow‐deformable liquid metal, graphene sheets, and iron oxide nanorods into a ternary architecture. This system overcomes the intrinsic incompatibility among RAT mechanisms through strain‐mediated microstructural reconfiguration, enabling the four‐state reversible switching of terahertz‐wave reflection (32.4 dB shielding), absorption (60.2 dB reflection loss), transmission (up to 76.7%), and secondary reflection (50.8 dB shielding). Critically, the material achieves multimodal sensing with resistance sensitivity and cyclic stability, and in response to external demands, it issues deformation instructions, verifies the deformation state after the equipment executes the action, and thus forms a closed‐loop adaptation to precisely switch the corresponding electromagnetic functions. This bioinspired approach shows potential for deformable equipment armor and multifunctional wearable systems in both civilian and defense applications.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electromagnetic wave absorption materials · Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications · Advanced Antenna and Metasurface Technologies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Materials Science and Engineering Tongji University Shanghai P. R. China

Key Laboratory of Textile Fiber and Products, Ministry of Education Wuhan Textile University Wuhan China

School of Materials Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Education of Ministry Shanghai P. R. China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Shanghai Key Basic Research Program · Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai Municipality

References (54)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1021/acsnano.3c0297510.1021/acsnano.3c02975 ↗
2. 10.1038/s41467-024-50541-410.1038/s41467-024-50541-4 ↗
3. 10.1038/s41467‐023‐44344‐210.1038/s41467‐023‐44344‐2 ↗
4. 10.1002/adma.20241888910.1002/adma.202418889 ↗
5. 10.1002/adma.20241018610.1002/adma.202410186 ↗
6. 10.1002/adma.20241408510.1002/adma.202414085 ↗
7. 10.1002/adfm.20241854110.1002/adfm.202418541 ↗
8. 10.1002/anie.20221395210.1002/anie.202213952 ↗
9. 10.1002/anie.20220070510.1002/anie.202200705 ↗
10. 10.1021/acsnano.1c0127710.1021/acsnano.1c01277 ↗
11. 10.1021/acsnano.0c0883010.1021/acsnano.0c08830 ↗
12. 10.1002/adfm.20221400110.1002/adfm.202214001 ↗
13. 10.1002/adma.20170634310.1002/adma.201706343 ↗
14. 10.1002/adom.20190218210.1002/adom.201902182 ↗
15. 10.1002/advs.20230589810.1002/advs.202305898 ↗
16. 10.1002/advs.20250555110.1002/advs.202505551 ↗
17. 10.1002/adfm.20220516010.1002/adfm.202205160 ↗
18. 10.1002/adma.20241260510.1002/adma.202412605 ↗
19. 10.1016/j.cej.2023.14326610.1016/j.cej.2023.143266 ↗
20. 10.1002/adfm.20250630810.1002/adfm.202506308 ↗
21. 10.1039/D3MH01795H10.1039/D3MH01795H ↗
22. 10.1002/adfm.20250495910.1002/adfm.202504959 ↗
23. 10.1002/adfm.20241887010.1002/adfm.202418870 ↗
24. 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.10670010.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106700 ↗
25. 10.1038/s41467‐024‐44707‐310.1038/s41467‐024‐44707‐3 ↗
26. 10.1002/adom.20200112010.1002/adom.202001120 ↗
27. 10.1002/adma.20231113510.1002/adma.202311135 ↗
28. 10.1016/j.matt.2021.06.03410.1016/j.matt.2021.06.034 ↗
29. 10.1002/adma.20210213110.1002/adma.202102131 ↗
30. 10.1002/anie.20240617710.1002/anie.202406177 ↗
31. 10.1007/s40820‐024‐01365‐w10.1007/s40820‐024‐01365‐w ↗
32. Tunable High‐Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding of VO2 Nanowires‐Based Composite
33. 10.1016/j.matt.2021.02.02210.1016/j.matt.2021.02.022 ↗
34. 10.1002/adma.20140578810.1002/adma.201405788 ↗
35. 10.1016/j.cej.2021.13361910.1016/j.cej.2021.133619 ↗
36. 10.1021/acsami.3c1894310.1021/acsami.3c18943 ↗
37. 10.1002/admi.20200062610.1002/admi.202000626 ↗
38. 10.1039/C5RA09715K10.1039/C5RA09715K ↗
39. 10.1021/acsanm.3c0199410.1021/acsanm.3c01994 ↗
40. 10.1002/adfm.20241315610.1002/adfm.202413156 ↗
41. 10.1002/adma.20230973210.1002/adma.202309732 ↗
42. 10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.10899510.1016/j.compositesb.2021.108995 ↗
43. 10.1016/j.matt.2020.03.01610.1016/j.matt.2020.03.016 ↗
44. 10.1126/sciadv.abg404110.1126/sciadv.abg4041 ↗
45. 10.1002/adfm.20231022510.1002/adfm.202310225 ↗
46. 10.1021/acsami.2c1024510.1021/acsami.2c10245 ↗
47. 10.1007/s40820-022-00800-010.1007/s40820-022-00800-0 ↗
48. 10.1002/adom.20180116510.1002/adom.201801165 ↗
49. 10.1021/acsnano.9b0883210.1021/acsnano.9b08832 ↗
50. 10.1002/adfm.20230688410.1002/adfm.202306884 ↗
51. 10.1002/adma.20190849610.1002/adma.201908496 ↗
52. 10.1002/adfm.20170436310.1002/adfm.201704363 ↗
53. 10.1002/adma.20200217810.1002/adma.202002178 ↗
54. 10.1002/adfm.20230917710.1002/adfm.202309177 ↗