Yukikazu Takeoka

Sprayed: Pigments with various angle-independent colors were prepared by a spray method (see picture), which is a remarkably simple method using submicrometer-sized silica particles and carbon black. The use of a polyelectrolyte that adheres to the particles can stabilize the structure of the colloidal amorphous arrays to create highly stressable, nonfading pigments. As a service to our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such materials are

We are able to observe a colour due to the interference of light from microstructures composed of different refractive index materials that is comparable to the visible wavelength of light; such a colour is called a structural colour. Because structural colour is fadeless and no energy is lost from the colour mechanism, structurally coloured materials are expected to be used for energy-saving reflective displays and sensors. Previously, however, the word “iridescence” rather than “structural col

An elastomer is a three-dimensional network with a cross-linked polymer chain that undergoes large deformation with a small external force and returns to its original state when the external force is removed. Because of this hyperelasticity, elastomers are regarded as one of the best candidates for the matrix material of soft robots. However, the comprehensive performance required of matrix materials is a special challenge because improvement of some matrix properties often causes the deteriorat

Inspired by Steller's jay, which displays angle-independent structural colors, angle-independent structurally colored materials are created, which are composed of amorphous arrays of submicrometer-sized fine spherical silica colloidal particles. When the colloidal amorphous arrays are thick, they do not appear colorful but almost white. However, the saturation of the structural color can be increased by (i) appropriately controlling the thickness of the array and (ii) placing the black backgroun

We have demonstrated for the first time that condensed gel particle suspensions in amorphous-like states display structural color with low angle dependence. This finding is in contrast to the common understanding that a periodic dielectric structure is fundamental to photonic band gap (PBG) production, and it validates the theory that a "tight bonding model" that is applicable to semiconductor systems can also be applied to photonic systems. More practically, this structural colored suspension r

“Smart” porous gels with different optical behaviors were synthesized by quantitative adjustment of the cross-linker in pre-gel solutions. A periodically ordered interconnecting porous structure could be created in the gels by using a closest-packing silica colloidal crystal as a template. The interconnecting porosity provides fast response to changes in temperature through the reversible swelling and shrinking of the gels, while the periodically ordered mesoscopic structure endows the porous ge

Two distinct types of colloidal particle aggregated states exist in opal, namely, the colloidal crystal and the colloidal amorphous array. Today, these aggregates can be artificially prepared and are now studied as non-fading structurally colored materials as a result of our better understanding of their optical properties. Additionally, by applying the aggregates as stimuli-responsive materials, we can fabricate stimuli-responsive structurally colored systems that change their hue and saturatio

A dually tunable photonic crystal composed of thermosensitive gel particles confined in a pH-sensitive inverse-opal gel is reported. The position of the photonic band-gap can be thermally regulated, while its intensity is dramatically changed by pH. Reversible, independent, and extensive switching of the position and intensity of the photonic band-gap could be achieved using independent external stimuli.

Here we report the design and synthesis of a novel porous gel for an ionic visible indicator. The rapid-responsive porous gel which reveals color changes depending on a potassium ion concentration was prepared using a templating technique.

A periodically ordered interconnecting porous structure could be imprinted in thermosensitive hydrogels by using silica colloidal crystals as mesoscopically sized templates. The interconnecting porous structure provides a fast response to the change in temperature for reversible swelling and shrinking of the hydrogels, while the periodically ordered mesoscopical structure endows a structural color to the gel. The structural color imprinted in the gel is quickly synchronized with the change in th

This study investigated the colourful secondary particles formed by controlling the aggregation states of colloidal silica particles and the enhancement of the structural colouration of the secondary particles caused by adding black particles. We obtained glossy, partially structurally coloured secondary particles in the absence of NaCl, but matte, whitish secondary particles were obtained in the presence of NaCl. When a small amount of carbon black was incorporated into both types of secondary

We report the preparation of thermally tunable hydrogels displaying angle-independent structural colors. The porous structures were formed with short-range order using colloidal amorphous array templates and a small amount of carbon black (CB). The resultant porous hydrogels prepared using colloidal amorphous arrays without CB appeared white, whereas the hydrogels with CB revealed bright structural colors. The brightly colored hydrogels rapidly changed hues in a reversible manner, and the hues v

We report the structural color behavior of a periodic ordered mesoporous gel synchronized with the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. The structural colored concentric rings which were spatiotemporally spread out on the porous gel were observed during the BZ reaction. The color tone of the structural color, which is determined by the swelling ratio of the gel, was periodically changed. This is the first evidence that a self-sustaining peristaltic motion occurs on the surface of a gel.

Polyampholyte gel, frustrated by the conflicting interactions between its positive and negative monomers, can undergo a sharp discontinuous phase transition driven by changing either gel composition or solvent quality and/or permeability. This finding completes the investigation of all four major interactions involved in the biomolecular machinery with respect to their role in the behavior of polymer gels, considered here as a model of biopolymer system. The result also sheds light on the possib

Monodisperse-spherical-assemblies displaying various structural-colors in air can be prepared from white and black colloidal particles using a micro-flow-focusing device.