Preparation of P(St-NMA) microsphere inks and their application in photonic crystal patterns with brilliant structural colors

Abstract

Patterned photonic crystals with structural colors on textile substrates have attracted a special attention due to the great advantages in application, which currently become a research hot-spot. This study utilized an ink-jet printing technology to prepare high-quality photonic crystal patterns with structural colors on polyester substrates. The self-assembly temperature of poly(styrene-N-methylol acrylamide) (P(St-NMA)) microspheres set to construct photonic crystals were deeply optimized. Moreover, the structural colors of prepared photonic crystal patterns were characterized and evaluated. When the mass fraction of P(St-NMA) microspheres was 1.0 wt.%, the pH value ranged from 5 to 7, and the surface tension was in the range of 63.79 to 71.20 mN/m, inks could present the best print performance. At 60 °C, prepared P(St-NMA) microsphere inks were good for printing to obtain patterned photonic crystals with regular arrangement and beautiful structural colors. Specifically, photonic crystals with different colors could be constructed by regulating the diameter of microspheres in inks, and prepared structural colors exhibited distinct iridescent phenomenon. The present results could provide a theoretical basis for the industrial realization of patterned photonic crystals by ink-jet printing technology.

Keywords

photonic crystal / structural color / ink-jet printing / P(St-NMA) microsphere ink / polyester substrate

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Acknowledgements

We were sincerely grateful to the financial support from the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. LQ19E030022 and LY20E030006), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51773181), the Research Startup Fund of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (Grant No. 18012212-Y), the Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Clean Dyeing and Finishing Technology of Zhejiang Province (Project Number: 1802), and the Fund for the Excellent Doctoral Program of Zhejiang Provincial Top Key Academic Discipline of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (CETT2017001).

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