Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Zhao, Tianheng H.
• Jacucci, Gianni
• Chen, Xi
• Song, Dong‐Po
• Vignolini, Silvia
• Parker, Richard M.

Titel

Angular‐Independent Photonic Pigments via the Controlled Micellization of Amphiphilic Bottlebrush Block Copolymers

Ist Teil von

• Advanced materials (Weinheim), 2020-11, Vol.32 (47), p.e2002681-n/a

Ort / Verlag

Weinheim: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2020

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Photonic materials with angular‐independent structural color are highly desirable because they offer the broad viewing angles required for application as colorants in paints, cosmetics, textiles, or displays. However, they are challenging to fabricate as they require isotropic nanoscale architectures with only short‐range correlation. Here, porous microparticles with such a structure are produced in a single, scalable step from an amphiphilic bottlebrush block copolymer. This is achieved by exploiting a novel “controlled micellization” self‐assembly mechanism within an emulsified toluene‐in‐water droplet. By restricting water permeation through the droplet interface, the size of the pores can be precisely addressed, resulting in structurally colored pigments. Furthermore, the reflected color can be tuned to reflect across the full visible spectrum using only a single polymer (Mn = 290 kDa) by altering the initial emulsification conditions. Such “photonic pigments” have several key advantages over their crystalline analogues, as they provide isotropic structural coloration that suppresses iridescence and improves color purity without the need for either refractive index matching or the inclusion of a broadband absorber. Photonic microparticles are produced in a single, scalable step from an amphiphilic, low‐molecular‐weight bottlebrush block copolymer. By controlling the formation, swelling, and subsequent self‐assembly of giant reverse micelles within an emulsified toluene‐in‐water droplet, a highly porous structure with short‐range correlation is produced. This isotropic inverse photonic architecture allows for a full spectrum of angular‐independent, structurally colored pigments.