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Photochromism from wavelength-selective colloidal phase segregation

Author

Listed:
  • Jing Zheng

    (Xiamen University
    The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam)

  • Jingyuan Chen

    (The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam)

  • Yakang Jin

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay
    University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Yan Wen

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay)

  • Yijiang Mu

    (The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam)

  • Changjin Wu

    (The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam)

  • Yufeng Wang

    (The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam)

  • Penger Tong

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay)

  • Zhigang Li

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay)

  • Xu Hou

    (Xiamen University
    Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Jinyao Tang

    (The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam
    The University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Phase segregation is ubiquitously observed in immiscible mixtures, such as oil and water, in which the mixing entropy is overcome by the segregation enthalpy1–3. In monodispersed colloidal systems, however, the colloidal–colloidal interactions are usually non-specific and short-ranged, which leads to negligible segregation enthalpy4. The recently developed photoactive colloidal particles show long-range phoretic interactions, which can be readily tuned with incident light, suggesting an ideal model for studying phase behaviour and structure evolution kinetics5,6. In this work, we design a simple spectral selective active colloidal system, in which TiO2 colloidal species were coded with spectral distinctive dyes to form a photochromic colloidal swarm. In this system, the particle–particle interactions can be programmed by combining incident light with various wavelengths and intensities to enable controllable colloidal gelation and segregation. Furthermore, by mixing the cyan, magenta and yellow colloids, a dynamic photochromic colloidal swarm is formulated. On illumination of coloured light, the colloidal swarm adapts the appearance of incident light due to layered phase segregation, presenting a facile approach towards coloured electronic paper and self-powered optical camouflage.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Zheng & Jingyuan Chen & Yakang Jin & Yan Wen & Yijiang Mu & Changjin Wu & Yufeng Wang & Penger Tong & Zhigang Li & Xu Hou & Jinyao Tang, 2023. "Photochromism from wavelength-selective colloidal phase segregation," Nature, Nature, vol. 617(7961), pages 499-506, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:617:y:2023:i:7961:d:10.1038_s41586-023-05873-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05873-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Yin, Xiangxin & Dai, Haifeng & Zhao, Lingzhi & Zhao, Donghua & Xiao, Rui & Sun, Yongzheng, 2024. "Control costs of long-range interacting multi-agent systems with noise perturbation," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).

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