Jurewicz, Izabela, King, Alice A K, Shanker, Ravi, Large, Matthew J, Smith, Ronan J, Maspero, Ross, Ogilvie, Sean P, Scheerder, Jurgen, Han, Jun, Backes, Claudia, Razal, Joselito M, Florescu, Marian, Keddie, Joseph L, Coleman, Jonathan N and Dalton, Alan B (2020) Mechanochromic and thermochromic sensors based on graphene infused polymer opals. Advanced Functional Materials, 30 (31). a2002473 1-38. ISSN 1616-301X

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Abstract

High quality opal‐like photonic crystals containing graphene are fabricated using evaporation‐driven self‐assembly of soft polymer colloids. A miniscule amount of pristine graphene within a colloidal crystal lattice results in the formation of colloidal crystals with a strong angle‐dependent structural color and a stop band that can be reversibly shifted across the visible spectrum. The crystals can be mechanically deformed or can reversibly change color as a function of their temperature, hence their sensitive mechanochromic and thermochromic response make them attractive candidates for a wide range of visual sensing applications. In particular, it is shown that the crystals are excellent candidates for visual strain sensors or integrated time‐temperature indicators which act over large temperature windows. Given the versatility of these crystals, this method represents a simple, inexpensive, and scalable approach to produce multifunctional graphene infused synthetic opals and opens up exciting applications for novel solution‐processable nanomaterial based photonics.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	colloidal crystals, pristine graphene, self-assembly, time-temperature indicators, mechanochromic sensors
Schools and Departments:	School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	15 Apr 2020 08:11
Last Modified:	05 Feb 2021 15:31
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/90745

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