journal article·2024-03Open access

Structural Color‐Based Smart Liquid Windows Address the Tradeoff Between High Optical Transparency and Brilliant Color

Yang Hu, Dongpeng Yang, Dekun Ma, Chenze Qi, Shaoming Huang

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 34· Issue 10

Abstract

Abstract It is challenging for traditional smart windows to possess both high optical transparency (90%, 380–780 nm) and brilliant colors since they are usually contradictory to each other. Here, novel liquid thermal‐responsive smart windows (TSWs) exhibiting high optical transparency (94%), bright iridescent forward scattering structural color, and extremely weak reflective structural colors are fabricated by constructing a refractive index (RI)‐matched non‐close‐packing ordered structure with large lattice distances and thus unique light diffraction mechanisms. The transmittance (24‐94%) and dual‐mode structural color saturation (1–55 times) can be dynamically regulated by simply altering temperatures (20–100 °C), which can be attributed to the temperature‐dependent light diffraction and scattering efficiency. A new information encryption‐decryption technique is developed by combining TSWs with outstanding shapeability, recyclability, and flowability. The information is hidden under normal conditions, while 76 different pieces of information can be decrypted in programmable ways under different stimuli, showing their potential in anti‐counterfeiting and information encryption.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Liquid Crystal Research Advancements · Photonic Crystals and Applications · Advanced Materials and Mechanics

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

Affiliations

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Alternative Technologies for Fine Chemicals Process School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shaoxing University Shaoxing 312000 China

School of Chemistry and Materials Science Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Hangzhou 310024 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province

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