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Bioinspired Photonic Pigments from Colloidal Self‐Assembly
Author(s) -
Goerlitzer Eric S. A.,
Klupp Taylor Robin N.,
Vogel Nicolas
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201706654
Subject(s) - structural coloration , microscale chemistry , nanotechnology , photonics , self assembly , camouflage , materials science , iridescence , photonic crystal , biomimetics , photonic metamaterial , computer science , optics , physics , optoelectronics , artificial intelligence , mathematics education , mathematics
The natural world is a colorful environment. Stunning displays of coloration have evolved throughout nature to optimize camouflage, warning, and communication. The resulting flamboyant visual effects and remarkable dynamic properties, often caused by an intricate structural design at the nano‐ and microscale, continue to inspire scientists to unravel the underlying physics and to recreate the observed effects. Here, the methodologies to create bioinspired photonic pigments using colloidal self‐assembly approaches are considered. The physics governing the interaction of light with structural features and natural examples of structural coloration are briefly introduced. It is then outlined how the self‐assembly of colloidal particles, acting as wavelength‐scale building blocks, can be particularly useful to replicate coloration from nature. Different coloration effects that result from the defined structure of the self‐assembled colloids are introduced and it is highlighted how these optical properties can be translated into photonic pigments by modifications of the assembly processes. The importance of absorbing elements, as well as the role of surface chemistry and wettability to control structural coloration is discussed. Finally, approaches to integrate dynamic control of coloration into such self‐assembled photonic pigments are outlined.