Responsive Photonic Crystal Microcapsules of Block Copolymers with Enhanced Monochromaticity

Self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) has been developed as a promising approach for constructing photonic crystal (PC) microspheres for dynamic optical modulation. However, high curvature in the center of microspheres usually distorts the periodic core structure, leading to an inconsistency of photonic bandgap and poor monochromaticity of structural color. Herein, we report a simple yet robust strategy for fabricating responsive PC microcapsules of polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) through self-emulsification strategy. Interestingly, the microcapsules exhibit bright structural color with significantly enhanced monochromaticity, compared to their solid counterpart, since the microcapsules have no irregular cores. The structural colors of the PC microcapsules not only exhibit a variability through binary mixing of BCPs but also show a responsiveness to pH value. As a colored microcarrier, the PC microcapsules show a potential for visualizing the pH-dependent release behavior of encapsulated hydrophilic cargos on account of pH-responsive structural color.