Bioinspired thermoresponsive photonic polymers with hierarchical structures and their unique properties

Date

2015

Authors

Lu, T.
Zhu, S.
Ma, J.
Lin, J.
Wang, W.
Pan, H.
Tian, F.
Zhang, W.
Zhang, D.

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Journal article

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Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2015; 36(19):1722-1728

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Abstract

Thermoresponsive photonic materials having hierarchical structures are created by combining a template of Morpho butterfly wings with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) through a chemical bonding and polymerization route. These materials show temperature-induced color tunability. Through reacting with both NIPAM monomers and the amino groups of chitosan in wing scales, glutaraldehyde workes as a bridge by creating chemical bonding between the biotemplate and the PNIPAM. The corresponding reflection peaks red-shift with increase in temperature - an opposite phenomenon to previous studies, demonstrating a thermoresponsive photonic property. This unique phenomenon is caused by the refractive index change due to the volume change of PNIPAM during the temperature rising. This work sets up an efficient strategy for the fabrication of stimuli-responsive photonic materials with hierarchical structures toward extensive applications in science and technology. Stimuli-responsive photonic polymers-with hierarchical structures are synthesized by connecting the functional polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) on Morpho butterfly wings. The use of glutaraldehyde is proved vital in determining the uniformity of the coatings. The resultant materials demonstrate a unique thermoresponse property-a red shift in reflection spectra due to the refractive index change of the PNIPAM coating, an opposite phenomenon to previous studies.

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Copyright 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag

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