Non-iridescent structural color patterns with robust mechanical properties produced by two-step photopolymerization

Abstract

Structural color films with high brightness, saturation and robust mechanical properties have been prepared by a two-step photopolymerization method using colloidal inks. The color saturation of the films could be controlled by the mass of the carbon black (CB) particles and polymerization time while the colors are closely related to the diameter of the CB@SiO2 microspheres. The inks were prepared by dispersing CB@SiO2 microspheres with black CB particles as the core and inorganic SiO2 as the shell in poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA) resins. The results of bending and rubbing tests showed that the addition of PEGDA prevented the formation of film cracks and enhanced mechanical properties without altering the original color. Structurally colored films were directly attached to a variety of substrates, including glass, metal, paper, and fabric. These colloidal inks have potential application in the fields of displays, paints, and other color-related fields.