Self-assembly of colloidal particles into amorphous photonic crystals

Yang Hu‡; Yuqi Zhang‡; Dongpeng Yang; Dekun Ma; Shaoming Huang

doi:10.1039/D1MA00477H

Self-assembly of colloidal particles into amorphous photonic crystals

Yang Hu‡,^a Yuqi Zhang‡,^b Dongpeng Yang,

*^a Dekun Ma^c and Shaoming Huang

*^a

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* Corresponding authors

^a School of Materials and Energy, School of Physics and Optoelectric Engineering, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Materials and Energy Storage Devices, Guangdong University of Technology and Synergy Innovation Institute of GDUT, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
E-mail: dpyang@gdut.edu.cn, smhuang@gdut.edu.cn

^b Laboratory for Advanced Interfacial Materials and Devices, Institute of Textiles and Clothing. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China

^c Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Alternative Technologies for Fine Chemicals Process, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, P. R. China

Abstract

Colloidal photonic crystals (PCs) have been extensively investigated since they can be prepared in an efficient and low-cost way. Different from the conventional PCs with highly ordered structures, amorphous photonic crystals (APCs) with an isotropic photonic bandgap and non-iridescent structural colors have attracted growing interest especially in pigments, angle-independent displays, and optical coatings. This review focuses on the various strategies used for the fabrication of APCs by spraying, infiltration, layer-by-layer deposition, electrolyte-induced assembly, electrophoretic deposition, phase separation, assembly of bi-disperse-suspension, assembly of particles with a rough surface, assembly of soft particles, and assembly of low-charged particles. Their potential applications are also summarized, such as angle-independent displays, sensors, paintings, anti-counterfeiting labels, information storage, and so on. Finally, we present our perspectives together with the challenges of APCs.

Materials Advances

Self-assembly of colloidal particles into amorphous photonic crystals

Abstract

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Self-assembly of colloidal particles into amorphous photonic crystals

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