Inspired by multifunctional fish scales with swift stimulus-responsive capabilities, we developed inorganic nanostructured isolated particles and nanostructured coatings with surface morphology that can mimic that of natural fish scales via a facile self-assembly approach. The bio-inspired nanostructures feature tunable light refraction and reflection, tunable surface wettability and damage-tolerant mechanical properties, and provide new insights for developing novel functional materials for ‘smart’ structures and applications.
- Ziqi Sun
- Ting Liao
- Shi Xue Dou