Modulation of Multiscale 3D Lattices through Conformational Control: Painting Silk Inverse Opals with Water and Light

Abstract

Structural proteins from naturally occurring materials are an inspiring template for material design and synthesis at multiple scales. The ability to control the assembly and conformation of such materials offers the opportunity to define fabrication approaches that recapitulate the dimensional hierarchy and structure-function relationships found in nature. A simple and versatile directed assembly method of silk fibroin, which allows the design of structures across multiple dimensional scales by generating and tuning structural color in large-scale, macro defect-free colloidally assembled 3D nanostructures in the form of silk inverse opals (SIOs) is reported. This approach effectively combines bottom-up and top-down techniques to obtain control on the nanoscale (through silk conformational changes), microscale (through patterning), and macroscale (through colloidal assembly), ultimately resulting in a controllable photonic lattice with predefined spectral behavior, with a resulting palette spanning almost the entire visible range. As a demonstration of the approach, examples of "multispectral" SIOs, paired with theoretical calculations and analysis of their response as a function of changes of lattice constants and refractive index contrast are illustrated.

Large Area Three‐Dimensional Photonic Crystal Membranes: Single‐Run Fabrication and Applications with Embedded Planar Defects

“…The correspondence between the center wavelength of the resonance mode and the refractive index of infiltrated solvent is recorded and shown in Figure b, which suggested a sensitivity of around 397 nm RIU −1 . This is comparable with the result from silk inverse opal structures . After each measurement, the sample can be soft baked to let the solvents fully evaporate from the porous structures, thus making it suitable for multiple usage for sensing gases or solvents.…”

Mechanochemically assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Sn-substituted MFI-type silicates

“…Functional materials with hieratical structures have been attracted a great deal of attention in material science and technology because the unique structure-based functions widely applied as solar cells [1], biomedicines [2], two-dimensional nanoporous films [3], inverse opals [4], and membrane proteins [5]. Aluminosilicate zeolites, such as ZSM-5 and USY, widely used as adsorbents and catalysts, are representative materials with uniform hieratical micropore structures and strong acid sites.…”

Construction of 3DOM Carbon Nitrides with Quasi‐Honeycomb Structures for Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Production

“…[3,4] Spherical voids can increase light reflection and the distance of the light path to enhance the absorption efficiency of sunlight. [4,5] The structural features of these quasi-honeycomb semiconductors supply more light absorbing active sites, promote light trapping and charge separation/transfer, and improve electron lifetime. [2,6,7] In addition to their distinct optoelectronic characteristics, the most fascinating spot of quasi-honeycomb materials is their particular structural sensitivity to catalytic reactions, which possess evenly distributed pore size and high porosity.…”