Work

Humidity‐Driven Dynamic Structural Color and Infrared Emissivity of MXene‐Integrated Supramolecular Cholesteric Liquid‐Crystal Materials

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Multispectral materials that adaptively regulate structural color and infrared (IR) emissivity in response to environmental changes are highly desirable for adaptive camouflage and wearable thermoregulation. However, the development of humidity-responsive multispectral materials capable of dynamic visible structural-color tuning and reversible IR-emissivity regulation remains challenging. Here, we report a humidity-responsive MXene-integrated supramolecular cholesteric liquid-crystal material (Hygro-MXene-CLC) that combines an evaporation-induced self-assembled supramolecular CLC layer with a semitransparent cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-intercalated MXene layer through covalent interfacial bonding. Upon humidity variation, Hygro-MXene-CLC exhibits vivid structural-color modulation, with a reflection peak shift from 467 to 625 nm, together with IR-emissivity modulation from 35% to 82% over 3-14 µm. Mechanistic analyses reveal that water uptake simultaneously expands the cholesteric pitch and hydrates the CNF/MXene interlayers, producing a Bragg-reflection red shift and progressive IR-emissivity increase. Stepwise photopolymerization enables programmable visible-IR patterns, while reversible emissivity switching supports passive thermal regulation by enhancing heat dissipation at high humidity and reducing outward thermal radiation at low humidity. This work provides a promising strategy for humidity-responsive multispectral materials for smart camouflage and dynamic thermal management.

Source: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

DOI: 10.1002/anie.5314674