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Updated: Dec 13, 2025
Multiscale Structures Aggregated by Imprinted Nanofibers for Functional Surfaces
Published on: September 11, 2018
Full-color natural rubber latex with a photonic nanostructure composite
Dan Yan1, Lili Qiu1, Zihui Meng1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 102488, China. qiulili@bit.edu.cn mengzh@bit.edu.cn.
Abstract:
As environmental problems increase, there is an urgent demand for new eco-friendly materials. Natural rubber latex (NRL) is a natural material extracted from rubber trees. But its dyeing process with chemical dyes might result in contamination and environmental degradation. Here, NRL is composited with a photonic crystal (PhC) structure by spin coating for the first time. The polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) photonic nanostructure has been embedded into NRL to give it colors and provide it with optical functionalities. Colors of the composite could be designed and controlled by the sizes of the nanocolloids from 180 nm to 295 nm. The colors have strong stability under external stretching. The 3D natural rubber latex photonic crystal (NRLPC) is used as a responsive material to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde, acetone, toluene, xylene and styrene. With its visual color appearance, biocompatibility and flexibility, NRLPC has promising potential in various sensing applications.
