Hierarchically structured photonic crystals for integrated chemical separation and colorimetric detection. Issue 7 (23rd December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, Qianqian; Zhu, Biting; Ge, Jianping
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 9:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 2457
• Page End: 2463
• Publication Date: 2016-12-23
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c6nr08767a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Hierarchically structured SiO2 colloidal photonic crystals are prepared for integrated separation and colorimetric detection of chemical species via a new thin layer chromatography technique. It is the first time for a photonic crystal based separation technique to realize efficient separation and colorimetric detection at the same time. Abstract : A SiO2 colloidal photonic crystal film with a hierarchical porous structure is fabricated to demonstrate an integrated separation and colorimetric detection of chemical species for the first time. This new photonic crystal based thin layer chromatography process requires no dyeing, developing and UV irradiation compared to the traditional TLC. The assembling of mesoporous SiO2 particles via a supersaturation-induced-precipitation process forms uniform and hierarchical photonic crystals with micron-scale cracks and mesopores, which accelerate the diffusion of developers and intensify the adsorption/desorption between the analytes and silica for efficient separation. Meanwhile, the chemical substances infiltrated to the voids of photonic crystals cause an increase of the refractive index and a large contrast of structural colors towards the unloaded part, so that the sample spots can be directly recognized with the naked eye before and after separation.