A versatile approach to different colored photonic films generated from block copolymers and their conversion into polymer-grafted nanoplatelets. Issue 38 (17th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Yucheng; Zheng, Yang; Pribyl, Julia; Benicewicz, Brian C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 5:Issue 38(2017)
• Page Start: 9873
• Page End: 9878
• Publication Date: 2017-08-17
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c7tc02562a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : Polymer-grafted nanoplatelets made from block copolymers are new, versatile and stable materials for photonic films. Abstract : One-dimensional photonic crystals can be formed by the self-assembly of block copolymers. However, such materials are still difficult to make due to the synthetic challenge of making high molecular weight block copolymers and the slow self-assembly characteristics of these block copolymers to form high domain spacings ( d > 150 nm). Herein we report a new strategy to construct two different photonic crystals with different solvent responses and reflecting colors from the films of a single block copolymer. Initially, the films made from poly(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate)- block -poly(stearyl methacrylate) with moderate molecular weight (PTEPM666 - b -PSMA553 ) were responsive to alcohol with an observed stop band change from 365 nm (dry film) to 458 nm (film in ethanol), displaying a blue color. After conversion of the PTEPM domain to form SiO2 nanoplatelets, the PSMA553 - g -SiO2 nanoplatelet film showed a larger stop band change from 365 nm (dry film) to 591 nm (film in THF), which reflected a bright orange color.