Tough, structurally colored fabrics produced by photopolymerization

Structural coloration from photonic crystals (PCs) has attracted great interests owing to the chemical colorants-free process and highly brilliant color effects. However, the poor durability of the structural color severely restrains its practical applications. Based on this, a photopolymerization process to form polymer network structure was tactfully introduced in fabricating tough PCs on fabric substrates. The differences of surface morphology, tensile strength, binding strength and structural colors between poly(styrene-methacrylate) (P(St-MAA)) PCs and resultant P(St-MAA) PCs (named PHEA@P(St-MAA) PCs) were detailedly investigated and characterized. The results show that poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) film is formed by photocross-linking reaction with diphenyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide as initiator on the surface and interstices of P(St-MAA) PCs, which effectively improves the tensile strength and binding strength of P(St-MAA) PCs on fabric substrates. The PHEA@P(St-MAA) PCs display brilliant structural colors and obvious iridescence as well, although become red-shifted in accordance with Bragg’s law. It is concluded that this research will offer theoretical basis and practical guidance for the fabrication of the tough photonic crystals on fabric substrates.