journal article·2026-03-13

Fully Deformable Dual-Stopband Photonic Microcapsules via Microfluidic Core–Shell Emulsion Templates: Tunable Optical Properties and Mechanical Responsiveness

Yu Bai, Yi Ding, Guoquan Liao, Xiangchun Kong, Yucheng Wang, Mingshuo Dai, Yuandu Hu

ACS Applied Polymer Materials· Volume 8· Issue 5
Publisher page

Abstract

Photonic microcapsules with dual stopbands hold great potential in sensing and wearable electronics. However, existing systems face limited deformability and responsiveness to physical stimuli. In this study, we fabricated fully deformable dual-stopband photonic microcapsules using microfluidics-enabled core–shell double-emulsion templates. The core and shell parts of the microcapsules were an aqueous suspension of PNIPAM- co -AAC hydrogel particles and a poly(ethylene glycol) phenyl ether acrylate (PEGPEA) resin suspension of silica particles, respectively. Given that the core and shell parts were both deformable components, the resultant photonic microcapsules featured full deformability. Their structural colors can be regulated by tuning the particles’ diameters and volume fractions. The resultant microcapsules exhibited isotropic reflection spectra, overcoming angle dependence, and showed reversible color changes under mechanical compression. This work offers a scalable approach for multifunctional photonic microcapsules, paving the way for applications in microsensors, stress visualization, and adaptive wearable devices.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Photonic Crystals and Applications · Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization · Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Physical Science and Engineering

Beijing Jiaotong University

Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences

University of Toronto

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Technique and Equipment for Macromolecular Advanced Manufacturing

South China University of Technology

Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of the Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering

Tsinghua University

Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry

Hubei University of Technology

Funding

Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University · Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Technique and Equipment for Macromolecular Advanced Manufacturing, South China University of Technology

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