Self-Healable Organogel Nanocomposite with Angle-Independent Structural Colors

Structural colors have profound implications in the fields of pigments, displays and sensors, but none of the current non-iridescent photonic materials can restore their functions after mechanical damage. Herein, we report the first self-healable organogel nanocomposites with angle-independent structural colors. The organogel nanocomposites were prepared through the co-assembly of oleophilic silica nanoparticles, silicone-based supramolecular gels, and carbon black. The organogel system enables amorphous aggregation of silica nanoparticles and the angle-independent structural colors in the nanocomposites. Moreover, the hydrogen bonding in the supramolecular gel provides self-healing ability to the system, and the structural colored films obtained could heal themselves in tens of seconds to restore storage modulus, structural color, and surface slipperiness from mechanical cuts or shear failure repeatedly.