Facile fabrication of non-iridescence structural colored films with high stability and superhydrophobic/oleophobic properties

Non-iridescence structural colored films with both superhydrophobic andoleophobic properties as well as high structure stability were fabricated on fabric substrates by a composite of SiO2 microspheres and... [ view full abstract ]

Non-iridescence structural colored films with both superhydrophobic andoleophobic properties as well as high structure stability were fabricated on fabric substrates by a composite of SiO₂ microspheres and Poly(methylmethacrylate-butylacrylate) [P(MMA-BA)] copolymer particles via a simple one-step spry-coating technology. With this strategy, the obtained films present short-ordered and amorphous structure array similar to the amorphous nanostructures of avian feathers. The structural colors of the films on fabric substrates display the same hue at different viewing angles and could be easily tuned by varying the diameters of the SiO₂ microspheres. The fabricated amorphous array were mechanically robust and strongly binding to the substrate because of the cementing effect caused by the soft P(MMA-BA) copolymer particles filling the interstices of the SiO₂ microspheres like cement filling the gap and tightly holding stones in a sturdy cement wall. Meanwhile, both superhydrophobic and oleophobic properties of the films were obtained owing to the alkyl and fluorosilane modification of silica microspheres. The as-prepared films could resist the destruction of external forces and the invasion of some solvents to retain their brilliant structural color unchanged, and this property is significant for their potential applications in textile structural coloration, full-color displays and colorimetric sensors etc.