Covalently anchored photonic crystal skins for robust structural colors on textiles.

Pan, Chen; Tian, Aqing; Wu, Mingxiong; Guo, Yue; Liu, Hongxi; Tan, Haiying; Sun, Jiuxiao; Jin, Jing et al. · Soft Matter · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Photonic crystals (PCs) offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional textile dyes, exhibiting exceptional colorfastness properties. Nevertheless, the development of durable, wash-resistant PCs on porous colored basalt fibers (BFs) remains technologically challenging. In this work, we report an advanced fabrication strategy employing ZnS@PDA core-shell nanoparticles <i>via</i> stepwise spray coating, which forms covalent polyurethane linkages between the fabrics and PC-coatings through reactions of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) with polydopamine. Precise modulation of fabric hydrophilicity enables the formation of a distinctive single-fiber-encapsulated architecture that preserves textile breathability through its non-film morphological characteristics. Comprehensive laundering evaluations demonstrate outstanding colorfastness performance, with Δ<i>E</i> values consistently maintained below 2.0 across diverse media including aqueous solutions, detergents, and acidic/alkaline environments. The developed methodology establishes a universal platform for fabricating robust structural-colored technical textiles with multifunctional capabilities, thereby facilitating their implementation in next-generation smart wearable systems and specialized fabric applications.