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A magnetically tunable colloidal crystal film for reflective display
Cun Zhu1, Liangshui Chen, Hua Xu
1State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|June 4, 2011
Summary
Researchers developed a magnetic field responsive film using iron oxide/polystyrene nanospheres. This film
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Colloidal crystal films offer tunable optical properties.
- Magnetic nanospheres provide a route to external control over material assembly.
- Previous methods lacked convenient control over large-area film properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a general approach for fabricating magnetic field responsive colloidal crystal films.
- To demonstrate the tunable optical properties of these films via external magnetic fields.
- To explore the potential applications in sensors and displays.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of monodisperse Fe(3)O(4)/PS composite magnetic nanospheres.
- Deposition of nanospheres onto an agarose-gel coated substrate.
- Modulation of film properties using an external magnetic field and an array of small magnets.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated magnetic field responsive colloidal crystal films.
- Demonstrated control over optical properties (color and pattern) by altering interparticle distance with a magnetic field.
- Achieved tuning across the visible spectrum.
Conclusions:
- The developed method provides a facile way to create tunable optical films.
- Monodisperse magnetic nanospheres are promising for novel sensors, displays, and optoelectronic devices.
- External magnetic field control offers significant advantages for material design.
