색깔 변환이 가능한 삼차원 포토닉 액추에이터

By combining the multi-faceted environmental responsiveness of polymer hydrogels with photonically active structures, there has been a significant effort to create color-tunable photonic crystal sensors by changing either the periodic spacing of the structure or the dielectric constants of the materials. Here, we show that reversible spiral and helical opal switches with both dimensional and optical functionalities that respond to environmental chemistry can be constructed. When the transparent opal switch is swollen in hydrophilic acetic acid, right-handed spirals and helices that exhibit angularly dependent colors from Bragg diffraction are formed. When the transparent opal switch is swollen in hydrophobic hexane, left-handed spirals which exhibit angularly dependent colors from Bragg diffraction are formed. When the transparent opal switch is swollen in hydrophobic hexane solvent, a left-handed spiral and helix with an angularly independent bluish color is formed. After deswelling, all switches returned back to the transparent planar state. These color-tunable, reversible spiral and helical opal switches can be useful as mechanical actuators, and electrical devices as well as optical components.