Photonic crystals with vivid structure color and robust mechanical strength

Abstract

Photonic crystals (PCs) structure color has attracted great interest owing to its pigment-free, highly brilliant and fadeless characteristics. However, the poor mechanical strength of PCs, as well as low adhesive force between PCs and the substrate greatly limit its applications. In this paper, mussel-inspired highly adhesive polydopamine coating was fabricated between the fabric and the PCs, the highly adhesive coating can greatly improve the adhesion and mechanical strength of PCs. Moreover, the black background of polydopamine coating could highlight the structural color saturation at the most extend regardless of the base color of fabrics. Thus, the as prepared fabric presented vivid diffraction structure color and robust mechanical properties. It maintained brilliant color after being immersed in water for 14 days, or washed for 45 min under laundering tests. Also, it presented good bending or rubbing resistance which can endure 50 times repeated folding and rubbing test without obvious cracks or abscission. The research work will open an effective and low-cost avenue for preparation of high quality PCs with vivid color and robust mechanical strength, and expanding the application of PCs.