Bionic colloidal crystal coatings

Abstract In the biological world, due to the body’s microstructure can interfere with light in an orderly manner, many animals produce different colors after receiving environmental stimuli which is vital to the species’ survival. Researchers have discovered that beautiful colors are not produced by pigments, but by an ordered arrangement of dots or thin lines. In this chapter, we introduced the development and imitation of variable structural colors, by learning from nature, we prepared and characterized the bionic colloidal crystal coatings. We also introduced the photochromic mechanism in bionic colloidal crystals coatings. This project will be of major significance to broaden the application of colloidal crystals, improve the property of current coatings, provide the design reference for future coatings, and reduce the pollution in traditional paint or dye productions.