Structurally colored materials with spectrally selective absorbing components and methods for making the same

Abstract

A pigment comprising a plurality of photonic crystal particles dispersed in a medium, each photonic crystal particles containing a plurality of spectrally selective absorbing components dispersed within each photonic crystal particle that selectively absorb electromagnetic radiation without substantially absorbing electromagnetic radiation near a resonant wavelength of each photonic crystal particle, wherein each photonic crystal particle has a predetermined minimum number of repeat units of a photonic crystal structure, wherein the predetermined minimum number of repeat units is related to the resonant wavelength, the full-width at half maximum of the resonant wavelength, and the refractive index contrast in the photonic crystal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A pigment comprising:
 a plurality of photonic crystal particles dispersed in a medium, each photonic crystal particle containing a plurality of spectrally selective absorbing components dispersed within each photonic crystal particle that suppress wavelengths outside of a resonant wavelength of each photonic crystal particle and selectively absorb electromagnetic radiation without substantially absorbing electromagnetic radiation near the resonant wavelength of each photonic crystal particle,   wherein each photonic crystal particle has a predetermined minimum number of repeat units of a photonic crystal structure, wherein the predetermined minimum number of repeat units is related to the resonant wavelength, the full-width at half maximum of the resonant wavelength, and the refractive index contrast in the photonic crystal.   
     
     
         3 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the photonic crystal structure is an inverse or a direct opal structure. 
     
     
         4 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components are gold nanoparticles or silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         5 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the pigment exhibits a red structural color. 
     
     
         6 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the photonic crystal particles are bricks or spheres. 
     
     
         7 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the photonic crystal structure is an inverse opal structure and the spectrally selective absorbing components are gold nanoparticles and the pigment exhibits a red structural color. 
     
     
         8 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles copper nanoparticles, aluminum nanoparticles, inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components are rods, plates or quantum dots. 
     
     
         10 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein said photonic crystal particles comprise silica, titania, zirconia, alumina, polymeric materials, silicone, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, inorganic salts, quartz, sapphire, silicon, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the photonic crystals particles have a coating that provides UV protection properties, antimicrobial properties, anti-inflammatory properties, controlled release of desired molecules, photocatalytic properties or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles provide an angular independent structural color to an observer regardless of angles of observation. 
     
     
         13 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the pigment is used in paints, cosmetics, pastes or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined minimum number of repeat units of the photonic crystal structure is 12 repeat units. 
     
     
         15 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components reduce the reflectance of the resonant wavelength by no more than 0.2. 
     
     
         16 . The pigment of  claim 1 , the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise spherical gold nanoparticles with a size from 5 nm-80 nm, which do not significantly absorb at 650 nm but selectively absorb other visible wavelengths for producing a red color. 
     
     
         17 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise gold rods having a short axis diameter of 10 nm, a long axis length of 50-60 nm and an aspect ratio of 5-6, and have an absorbing wavelength that is centered around 520 nm and 1000 nm with an absorption minimum centered around about 620 nm for producing an orange-red to brown color. 
     
     
         18 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise gold hollow spheres having a core diameter of 600 nm and a shell of 7 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 910 nm with an absorption minimum below 650 nm for producing a green color 
     
     
         19 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 40-50 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 550 nm with an absorption minimum centered around 450 nm and above 700 nm for producing a purple/red color, 
     
     
         20 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 60-80 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 650 nm with an absorption minimum below 480 nm for producing a blue color. 
     
     
         21 . The pigment of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 110-150 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 950 nm with an absorption minimum centered around 520 nm for producing a green color.