Inorganic nanoparticle core-polymer shell structural color material, particle film, and method for producing particle film

Abstract

Polymer-shelled nanoparticles and a nanoparticle film are provided which significantly suppress the formation of dimers and clusters by preventing direct contact between nanoparticle cores, thereby obtaining brighter color development in a target wavelength band. An inorganic nanoparticle core-polymer shell structural color material is used, including an inorganic nanocrystal with a particle size of 40 to 300 nm and a refractive index of 3 or higher, surrounded by a polymer shell with a thickness of 20 to 200 nm. The polymer shell formed around the inorganic nanocrystals is based on hydroxyl groups present on the surface of the nanocrystals and surface-modified functional groups. For example, hydrophilic OH groups (hydroxyl groups) on the silicon surface are substituted with hydrophobic groups, and the silicon surface is modified and coated with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM).

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