A straightforward
strategy is first proposed to prepare an optical
hydrogel film with dynamic structural colors. This was achieved by
entrapping a dry thermoresponsive microgel film in a thermoresponsive
matrix hydrogel to construct a hierarchical structure. The color-displaying
function is implemented by the synergistic effect of both microgels
and the matrix hydrogel in which the microgels change their sizes
by temperature stimuli while the thermoresponsive matrix hydrogel
keeps them in a close-contacted state. The disordered microgel arrays
endow the composite hydrogel film with angle-independent structural
color. The dried stimuli-responsive microgel film and same thermoresponsive
surrounding hydrogel are two crucial issues. Based on this concept,
a pH/thermo dual-responsive optical hydrogel film was further prepared
by introducing methacrylic acid, a pH-sensitive co-monomer into the
microgels and matrix hydrogel. This straight and convenient fabrication
strategy may open up a new route for preparing optical hydrogel films
with various functions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.