Characterization of Hydrogel Films with Reflective Colors Templated by Colloidal Crystals

In this report, we successfully fabricated the temperature-responsive porous gel film by templating colloidal crystal (CC) of silica microparticles embedded in a hydrogel matrix poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPA). As elevating temperature from 25 ℃, showed color changes Bragg reflection red to blue, arising geometric decrease lattice spacing pores caused shrinkage NIPA upon heating process. Such were found be fully reversible range between 26 ℃ and 33 ℃. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements suggested that CC are thoroughly removed after treatment with hydrofluoric acid, thereby resulting formation without component. This report provides promising protocol check residual films both FT-IR TGA measurements.