A number of marine organisms use muscle-controlled surface structures to achieve rapid changes in colour and transparency with outstanding reversibility. Inspired by these display tactics, we develop analogous deformation-controlled surface-engineering approaches via strain-dependent cracks and folds to realize the following four mechanochromic devices: (1) transparency change mechanochromism (TCM), (2) luminescent mechanochromism (LM), (3) colour alteration mechanochromism (CAM) and (4) encryption mechanochromism (EM). These devices are based on a simple bilayer system that exhibits a broad range of mechanochromic behaviours with high sensitivity and reversibility. The TCM device can reversibly switch between transparent and opaque states. The LM can emit intensive fluorescence as stretched with very high strain sensitivity. The CAM can turn fluorescence from green to yellow to orange as stretched within 20% strain. The EM device can reversibly reveal and conceal any desirable patterns.

Fluorographene (FG), which inherits the properties of graphene and fluorographite (FGi), holds great promise for applications in high-performance materials and devices, including lubricants, nanocomposites, batteries, and nanoelectronics. However, challenges for realizing large-scale preparation and little knowledge concerning FG's physicochemical properties hinder its practical applications. Here, a novel and feasible method is developed to prepare FG through a simple sonochemical exfoliation process in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Interestingly, FG at a high concentration in NMP displays dramatic stability without any additional stabilizer or modifier, and the C/F ratio of FG can be facilely tuned just by adjusting the sonochemical time. Furthermore, the electrochemical and thermal properties of the prepared FG have been systematically investigated and exhibited regularity with variation of fluorine coverage. On the other hand, based on the solubility of FG in various solvents, a possible dispersion mechanism is proposed to guide FG's further applications in films or polymer-based composites as a mechanical reinforcement.