Reversible thermochromic response based on photonic crystal structure in butterfly wing

Abstract

Subtle responsive properties can be achieved by the photonic crystal (PC) nanostructures of butterfly based on thermal expansion effect. The studies focused on making the sample visually distinct. However, the response is restricted by limited thermal expansion coefficients. We herein report a new class of reversible thermochromic response achieved by controlling the ambient refractive index in butterfly PC structure. The photonic ethanol-filled nanoarchitecture sample is simply assembled by sealing liquid ethanol filling Papilio ulysses butterfly wing. Volatile ethanol is used to modulate the ambient refractive index. The sample is sealed with glasses to ensure reversibility. Liquid ethanol filling butterfly wing demonstrated significant allochroic response to ambient refractive index, which can be controlled by the liquefaction and vaporization of ethanol. This design is capable of converting thermal energy into visual color signals. The mechanism of this distinct response is simulated and proven by band theory. The response properties are performed with different filled chemicals and different structure parameters. Thus, the reversible thermochromic response design might have potential use in the fields such as detection, photonic switch, displays, and so forth.

Smart Textile‐Integrated Microelectronic Systems for Wearable Applications

“…And the bending caused the periodicity of the photonic crystal to change and produced a color change. Wang et al reported a new class of reversible thermochromic responses achieved by controlling the refractive index of the environment in a butterfly PC structure . Photon ethanol‐filled nanostructured samples were simply assembled by encapsulating liquid ethanol‐filled butterfly wings.…”

A nontoxic reversible thermochromic binary system via π–π stacking of sulfonephthaleins

“…2 Examples of thermochromic materials include liquid crystals, 3,4 photonic crystals, 5 gold or silver nanoparticles, 6 leuco dye systems, 7 polydiacetylene derivatives 8 and aggregachromic dyes. 9 Bragg reflection, 5,10 surface plasmon absorption 6 , ring-opening and closing of molecular structures, 7 protonation and deprotonation of dye materials 11 or conformational stretching of spiral structures 4 have been used to explain the mechanisms of these thermochromic materials. Nevertheless, few reports mention the relative toxicity of these thermochromic materials and concern about their safety limits their application in the areas of food or health care products packaging.…”

Toward the Burgeoning Optical Sensors with Ultra‐Precision Hierarchical Structures Inspired by Butterflies

“…reported a novel thermal sensing platform based on the structure of Papilio ulysses butterfly. In this work, the P. ulysses butterfly wings sealed liquid ethanol are made into liquid ethanol filling photonic crystal (LEF‐PC) [ 43 ] ( Figure d,e). The nanostructure of P. ulysses butterfly wing is different from the Pagoda‐shaped nanostructure of Morpho butterfly mentioned above ( Figure a).…”

“…f) Color response with different temperatures changed by contacting a finger, contact time is from 0 to 5 s. Reproduced with permission. [ 43 ] Copyright 2017, De Gruyter.…”