Direct-writing Structure Color Patterns on the Electrospun Colloidal Fibers toward Wearable Materials

Abstract

This study presents a direct-writing structure color patterns on electrospun colloidal fibers by inkjet printing. The colloidal fiber was obtained by electrospinning the aqueous mixture of colloidal particles of poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate-acrylic acid) and poly(vinyl alcohol). The pattern was obtained by directly inkjet printing water onto the electrospun colloidal fiber. The pattern formation was attributed to the morphological transition of the colloidal fiber from the fiber aggregation to latex aggregation and the corresponding color change due to the dissolution of poly(vinyl alcohol) by water. Interestingly, a clear and clean image was successfully obtained on the ethanol-treated colloidal fibers film in comparison to a confused and blur image onto the freshly-made film. It is because the treatment process can compact the fiber structure and lower the spreading/wetting behavior of ink on the fiber structure, contributing to the formation of high-quality pattern. Various letters or quick response code were flexibly designed and printed on to colloidal fibers. Furthermore, the pattern can be easily transferred onto flexible substrate, i.e., a flexible printed bracelet. This work will be of great significance for the development of novel wearable functional materials/devices based on electrospun colloidal fibers.