Fig. 2: Optical properties of grown photonic composite films.
From: Self-growing photonic composites with programmable colors and mechanical properties
a Time-dependent weight of \({{EG}}_{40}\) immersed in nutrient EG (the mixture of monomer PEGDA, crosslinker, photoinitiator, and transesterification catalyst). Inserts are the digital photos of samples at different states. Ethanol/CHCl3 solution was used for washing free nutrients. b Time-dependent weights of different grown samples immersed in a new nutrient EG. The catalyst-containing/free grown samples were obtained from nutrient EG with/without transesterification catalyst. Digital electronic photographs (c), cross-section SEM images (d), and UV-Visible spectra (e) of \({{EG}}_{40}\) and its grown products. f Experimental and theoretical interplanar spacing 2d versus \(1/^{3}\!\!\sqrt{1-{{\varnothing }}}\) of \({{EG}}_{40}\) and its grown products, where \({{\varnothing }}\) is the volume fraction of the polymer matrix. The solid line is the theoretic curve. g The theoretical and experimental reflection wavelength λ versus interplanar spacing 2d of \({{EG}}_{40}\) and its grown products. The solid line represents a theoretical line obtained via equation #1, where a composite \({n}_{{eff}}\) of 1.453 (20o C) is used.
