Amorphous photonic structure in a charged colloidal system showing angle-independent uniform color

Structural colors derived from the scattering or reflection of light by submicron-sized ordered structures are interesting due to their non-fading and tunable colors. Herein we show a colored angle-independent amorphous phase of monodisperse colloids between the crystalline and random phases in a charged colloidal system. The amorphous photonic structures with low packing density display uniform color over large areas; this is easily altered by adjusting the particle volume fraction. The transmission spectra of amorphous phases display an intersection point at the Bragg wavelength, allowing design of the transmission color. We demonstrate that the aqueous suspended colloidal amorphous structures can be immobilized in hydrogel films, while preserving their spectral properties. The sensitivity of the gel to ethanol allows the color to be tuned by changing the ethanol concentration. This angle-independent uniform color with easy tunability has great potential for application in advanced color materials and sensors.