Large-scale printing of non-iridescent structural colours facilitated by the infiltration-assisted non-equilibrium assembly of colloidal particles

Abstract

Soft materials are known to exhibit bright structural colours. These structural colours have many useful applications in displays and systems due to their photostability and energy efficiency. Most notably, non-iridescent structural colours with wide viewing angles are extremely useful. This project proposes and describes a method for the rapid and large-scale production of a full spectrum of non-iridescent structural colours. In this method, the infiltration-assisted non-equilibrium assembly of colloidal particles on fluid-permeable substrates leads to the rapid formation of amorphous colloidal arrays, which display non-iridescent structural colours. The large-scale assembly of amorphous colloidal arrays was first experimented on anodic aluminium oxide membranes, and then performed on photo papers. By mixing the primary structural colours of the amorphous colloidal arrays using a commercial office inkjet printer, a full spectrum of non-iridescent structural colours can be produced by infiltration-assisted (IFAST) printing. A variety of structural colour patterns can be developed for diverse applications by using different colloidal particles, inks, and substrates in this IFAST printing technology.