Chameleon color changing wall paint

Chinese scientists are developing a wall paint that can change color according to the weather or via a phone app.

You can use your phone to change the color of your wall paint. Photo: Phillips.

“Imagine a house that brightens your mood with bright colours every time it rains,” Dr Du Xuemin, who led the study, told the South China Morning Post.

This paint, called "chameleon," is a product of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and is arguably the best interior design since the invention of tasteable wallpaper by confectionery company Willy Wonka in 2010 (a fruit-patterned wallpaper that can be tasted with the tongue).

The idea behind the invention is to use controllable nano-cells, or microcrystals, that can swell or collapse to deflect natural light at different wavelengths, creating different ranges of color to the human eye. Each cell has a metal core that shrinks in size by pulling its shell inward. This change occurs when an electric current is passed through it or when the cell responds to temperature.

On cold, dreary days, the low temperatures cause the cells to react in bright colors. Conversely, on warm days, the wall paint takes on cooler tones, as the cells transition from deep pink to green and blue.

In addition, homeowners can also freely change the paint color according to their preferences, through an application on their smartphones. An electrical signal sent from the phone to the cells will quickly perform this color change.

According to VnExpress