Abstract
Nature has evolved a fantastic gallery of structural colors, offering a source of inspiration for the development of artificial, multifunctional photonic devices. Inspired by the widespread use of melanin particles to produce structural colors in bird feathers, we recently demonstrated that synthetic melanin nanoparticles (SMNPs) offer the same rare, but critical combination of high refractive index and high absorption as natural melanin. Here, we show for the first time fast, significant, and reversible changes of structural coloration in self-assembled SMNP films in response to changes in humidity. This process is driven by the hygroscopic nature of the particles, leading to changes in the thickness of the SMNP layer that alter the interference color. This mechanistic explanation is supported by water absorption measurements, an optical model, and environmental scanning electron microscopy. Humidity-induced dynamic colors arising from SMNP films offer possible routes for synthetic melanin as an importan...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
