Self‐Regulating Functional Coatings: Stimuli‐Responsive Mechanisms, Visualization Strategies, and Emerging Applications

Functional coatings have been widely utilized in military and civilian applications owing to their multifunctional properties, including electromagnetic shielding, lubrication, sensing, and protective capabilities. Recent research has increasingly focused on enhancing their durability and multifunctionality, particularly through the development of coatings capable of autonomously emitting or shielding signals in response to external stimuli. This review systematically examines recent advances in self‐regulating intelligent monitoring coatings. It discusses their responsive mechanisms and performance under various stimuli, including light, temperature, corrosive environments, and mechanical stress, and evaluates their potential for real‐time condition monitoring. The findings provide a theoretical foundation and highlight promising technological pathways for the development of next‐generation autonomous, adaptive coating systems.