Three-dimensional printing of photonic colloidal glasses into objects with isotropic structural color

Author(s):Show less -

Demiroers, Ahmet F. ; Poloni, Erik ; Chiesa, Maddalena ; Bargardi, Fabio L. ; Binelli, Marco R. ; Woigk, Wilhelm ; de Castro, Lucas D. C. ; Kleger, Nicole ; Coulter, Fergal B. ; Sicher, Alba ; Galinski, Henning ; Scheffold, Frank ; Studart, Andre R.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS; v. 13, n. 1, p. 9-pg., 2022-07-29.

Abstract

Structural color is frequently exploited by living organisms for biological functions and has also been translated into synthetic materials as a more durable and less hazardous alternative to conventional pigments. Additive manufacturing approaches were recently exploited for the fabrication of exquisite photonic objects, but the angle-dependence observed limits a broader application of structural color in synthetic systems. Here, we propose a manufacturing platform for the 3D printing of complex-shaped objects that display isotropic structural color generated from photonic colloidal glasses. Structurally colored objects are printed from aqueous colloidal inks containing monodisperse silica particles, carbon black, and a gel-forming copolymer. Rheology and Small-Angle-X-Ray-Scattering measurements are performed to identify the processing conditions leading to printed objects with tunable structural colors. Multimaterial printing is eventually used to create complex-shaped objects with multiple structural colors using silica and carbon as abundant and sustainable building blocks. There is a growing interest in mimicking structural color in natural systems aiming for sustainable and long-lasting color. Here the authors report a platform for three-dimensional printing assembly of colloidal particles of silica and carbon that have programmable structural color. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/20052-0 - Development of bioinspired superhydrophobic coatings via layer-by-layer deposition
• Grantee: Lucas Daniel Chiba de Castro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 20/02938-0 - Coloured patterns based on bioinspired photonic crystals for mechanocromic applications
• Grantee: Lucas Daniel Chiba de Castro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/06456-0 - Development of Raspberry-like SiO2 nanoparticles for application in bio-inspired superhydrophobic coatings
• Grantee: Lucas Daniel Chiba de Castro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate