Full-color natural rubber latex with a photonic nanostructure composite. Issue 67 (30th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yan, Dan; Qiu, Lili; Meng, Zihui; Shen, Yu; Xue, Min; Xu, Zhibin; Liu, Wenfang
• Is Part Of: Chemical communications. Volume 56:Issue 67(2020)
• Page Start: 9604
• Page End: 9607
• Publication Date: 2020-07-30
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/d0cc04034g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-7345

Abstract

Abstract : A full-color natural rubber latex composite dyed by a photonic nanostructure with optical sensing properties for VOCs was designed for the first time. Abstract : As environmental problems increase, there is an urgent demand for new eco-friendly materials. Natural rubber latex (NRL) is a natural material extracted from rubber trees. But its dyeing process with chemical dyes might result in contamination and environmental degradation. Here, NRL is composited with a photonic crystal (PhC) structure by spin coating for the first time. The polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) photonic nanostructure has been embedded into NRL to give it colors and provide it with optical functionalities. Colors of the composite could be designed and controlled by the sizes of the nanocolloids from 180 nm to 295 nm. The colors have strong stability under external stretching. The 3D natural rubber latex photonic crystal (NRLPC) is used as a responsive material to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde, acetone, toluene, xylene and styrene. With its visual color appearance, biocompatibility and flexibility, NRLPC has promising potential in various sensing applications.