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Mechanochromic and Thermochromic Sensors Based on Graphene Infused Polymer Opals
Author(s) -
Jurewicz Izabela,
King Alice A. K.,
Shanker Ravi,
Large Matthew J.,
Smith Ronan J.,
Maspero Ross,
Ogilvie Sean P.,
Scheerder Jurgen,
Han Jun,
Backes Claudia,
Razal Joselito M.,
Florescu Marian,
Keddie Joseph L.,
Coleman Jonathan N.,
Dalton Alan B.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202002473
Subject(s) - materials science , graphene , thermochromism , colloidal crystal , nanotechnology , nanomaterials , structural coloration , polymer , photonic crystal , colloid , optoelectronics , evaporation , chemical engineering , composite material , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , engineering , thermodynamics
High quality opal‐like photonic crystals containing graphene are fabricated using evaporation‐driven self‐assembly of soft polymer colloids. A miniscule amount of pristine graphene within a colloidal crystal lattice results in the formation of colloidal crystals with a strong angle‐dependent structural color and a stop band that can be reversibly shifted across the visible spectrum. The crystals can be mechanically deformed or can reversibly change color as a function of their temperature, hence their sensitive mechanochromic and thermochromic response make them attractive candidates for a wide range of visual sensing applications. In particular, it is shown that the crystals are excellent candidates for visual strain sensors or integrated time‐temperature indicators which act over large temperature windows. Given the versatility of these crystals, this method represents a simple, inexpensive, and scalable approach to produce multifunctional graphene infused synthetic opals and opens up exciting applications for novel solution‐processable nanomaterial based photonics.