title: Easy approach to assembling a biomimetic color film with tunable structural colors.
abstract: The self-assembly of silica microspheres into a close-packed array is a simple method of fabricating three-dimensional photonic crystal structural color films. However, the color is very dull because of the interferences of scattering and background light. In this study, we added a small quantity of surface-modified carbon black (CB) to the system of colloidal silica in n-propanol. The use of n-propanol as a dispersant is beneficial to the rapid development of photonic crystal films during the process of dip-coating. The doping of CB into silica microspheres can absorb background and scattering light, resulting in vivid structural colors.
authors.forename: Wentao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bingtao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Benzhi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Shufen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000433:1-Propanol / Q000737:chemistry; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003116:Color; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D017785:Photons; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D053260:Soot / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D053260:Soot; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000433:1-Propanol