Structural Color Palettes of Core-Shell Photonic Ink Capsules Containing Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Adv Mater. 2017 Jun;29(23). doi: 10.1002/adma.201606894. Epub 2017 Apr 3.

Abstract

Photonic microcapsules with onion-like topology are microfluidically designed to have cholesteric liquid crystals with opposite handedness in their core and shell. The microcapsules exhibit structural colors caused by dual photonic bandgaps, resulting in a rich variety of color on the optical palette. Moreover, the microcapsules can switch the colors from either core or shell depending on the selection of light-handedness.

Keywords: core-shell capsules; handedness of light; liquid crystals; microfluidics; triple-emulsion drops.