Photonic water dynamically responsive to external stimuli

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12559
• Publication Date: 2016-08-30T10:15:18Z
• Authors: Koki Sano; Youn Soo Kim; Yasuhiro Ishida; Yasuo Ebina; Takayoshi Sasaki; Takaaki Hikima; Takuzo Aida
• Keywords: Structural Coloration; Visible spectrum

Abstract Fluids that contain ordered nanostructures with periodic distances in the visible-wavelength range, anomalously exhibit structural colours can be rapidly modulated by external stimuli. Indeed, some fish dynamically change colour modulating distance of crystalline guanine sheets cofacially oriented their fluid cytoplasm. Here we report a dilute aqueous colloidal dispersion negatively charged titanate nanosheets exhibits colours. In this ‘photonic water’, spontaneously adopt cofacial geometry an ultralong up to 675 nm due strong electrostatic repulsion. Consequently, photonic water even reflect near-infrared light 1,750 nm. The becomes more vivid magnetic flux induces monodomain ordering dispersion. reflective over entire visible region response appropriate physical or chemical