Self-growing photonic composites with programmable colors and mechanical properties

Juan Xue, Xuewu Yin, Lulu Xue, Chenglin Zhang, Shihua Dong, Li Yang, Yuanlai Fang, Yong Li, Ling Li and Jiaxi Cui ()
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Juan Xue: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Xuewu Yin: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Lulu Xue: University of Pennsylvania
Chenglin Zhang: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Shihua Dong: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Li Yang: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yuanlai Fang: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yong Li: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Ling Li: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Jiaxi Cui: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Many organisms produce stunning optical displays based on structural color instead of pigmentation. This structural or photonic color is achieved through the interaction of light with intricate micro-/nano-structures, which are “grown” from strong, sustainable biological materials such as chitin, keratin, and cellulose. In contrast, current synthetic structural colored materials are usually brittle, inert, and produced via energy-intensive processes, posing significant challenges to their practical uses. Inspired by the brilliantly colored peacock feathers which selectively grow keratin-based photonic structures with different photonic bandgaps, we develop a self-growing photonic composite system in which the photonic bandgaps and hence the coloration can be easily tuned. This is achieved via the selective growth of the polymer matrix with polymerizable compounds as feeding materials in a silica nanosphere-polymer composite system, thus effectively modulating the photonic bandgaps without compromising nanostructural order. Such strategy not only allows the material system to continuously vary its colors and patterns in an on-demand manner, but also endows it with many appealing properties, including flexibility, toughness, self-healing ability, and reshaping capability. As this innovative self-growing method is simple, inexpensive, versatile, and scalable, we foresee its significant potential in meeting many emerging requirements for various applications of structural color materials.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35555-0

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