There are many technical and industrial applications for coloured pigments with anti-fading properties. The development of a low-cost, high-volume production method for anti-fading pigments with low toxicity and minimal environmental impact may promote their widespread use. To accomplish this goal, we need to prepare pigments using abundant and environmentally friendly chemical compounds. Here, I report on the aggregates of various colours formed by spraying fine, submicron spherical silica particles. The aggregate microstructure is isotropic with short-range order on a length scale comparable to optical wavelengths and exhibits an angle-independent structural colour due to wavelength-specific constructive interference. Interestingly, the colour saturation of these aggregates can be controlled by the incorporation of a small amount of conventional black particles, such as carbon black (CB). We demonstrate that a Japanese-style painting can be successfully drawn with this method and that an interesting effect is obtained that can be applied to steganography (Figure 1). The gel particles suspension system that display angle-independent structural color will be also described in my presentation.

Angle-independent structural colored materials by black and white components

255th National Meeting (2018)

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