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Self-growing photonic composites with programmable colors and mechanical properties

Author

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  • Juan Xue

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
    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
    University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Xue & Xuewu Yin & Lulu Xue & Chenglin Zhang & Shihua Dong & Li Yang & Yuanlai Fang & Yong Li & Ling Li & Jiaxi Cui, 2022. "Self-growing photonic composites with programmable colors and mechanical properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-35555-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35555-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. J. D. Joannopoulos & Pierre R. Villeneuve & Shanhui Fan, 1997. "Photonic crystals: putting a new twist on light," Nature, Nature, vol. 386(6621), pages 143-149, March.
    2. J. D. Joannopoulos & Pierre R. Villeneuve & Shanhui Fan, 1997. "Erratum: Photonic crystals: putting a new twist on light," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6635), pages 830-830, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Miaomiao Li & Bolun Peng & Quanqian Lyu & Xiaodong Chen & Zhen Hu & Xiujuan Zhang & Bijin Xiong & Lianbin Zhang & Jintao Zhu, 2024. "Scalable production of structurally colored composite films by shearing supramolecular composites of polymers and colloids," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Xiaozhuang Zhou & Yijun Zheng & Haohui Zhang & Li Yang & Yubo Cui & Baiju P. Krishnan & Shihua Dong & Michael Aizenberg & Xinhong Xiong & Yuhang Hu & Joanna Aizenberg & Jiaxi Cui, 2023. "Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Sijie Zhou & Chunhua Zhang & Zhuan Fu & Qimeng Zhu & Zhaozixuan Zhou & Junyao Gong & Na Zhu & Xiaofeng Wang & Xinjie Wei & Liangjun Xia & Weilin Xu, 2024. "Color construction of multi-colored carbon fibers using glucose," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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