Rapid Preparation of Liquid Photonic Crystals.

ABSTRACT: This study utilized a colloidal particle self-assembly method to rapidly prepare liquid photonic crystals (LPCs) stably dispersed in water. The submicrospheres with a diameter of 300-500 nm were synthesized by soap-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene (St) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron microscopy. With the content of monomer HEMA increasing, the size and the hydration shell thickness of P-(St-HEMA) (PSH) submicrospheres also increased. The assembly mechanism of liquid crystals was explored by varying the volume fraction, ionic strength, solvent, and temperature. The results indicated that the ordered structure began to form at a low PSH volume fraction of 5% in water. As the ionic strength increased

SUBMITTER: Zhao Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12423804 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature