Journal
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
Volume 14, Issue 3, Pages 4588-4597Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c23101
Keywords
thermochromic coatings; cholesteric liquid crystal; microcapsules; cellulose nanocrystals; responsive reflection band
Funding
- National Key R&D Program of China [2020YFE0100200]
- Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province [2020A151501715]
- Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou [2019050001]
- Program for Chang Jiang Scholars and Innovative Research Teams in Universities [IRT_17R40]
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics
- MOE International Laboratory for Optical Information Technologies
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology [2017B030301007]
- Yunnan Expert Workstation [202005AF150028]
- 111 Project [202005AF150028]
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This study successfully fabricated CLC microcapsules containing CNCs and an MF hybrid shell via in situ polymerization using CNC-stabilized Pickering emulsions as templates, which can be used for the preparation of thermochromic coatings. The resulting thermochromic coatings can adjust their color in the visible wavelength range and exhibit a high reflectance, making them applicable to flexible substrates.
Thermochromic coatings that can change their color in response to variations in ambient temperature have various potential applications. Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) are promising thermochromic materials due to their selective light reflection and wide regulation range. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate thermochromic coatings that combine good responsivity, mechanical strength, fabrication feasibility, and flexibility. In this study, CLC microcapsules containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and a melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin hybrid shell were fabricated via in situ polymerization using CNC-stabilized Pickering emulsions as templates. The CNCs were employed as both Pickering emulsifiers and alignment agents of CLCs to prepare CLC Pickering emulsions. The CLC microcapsules were mixed with curable binders to obtain coating slurries, and thermochromic coatings were prepared by painting the slurries on substrates and drying. The thermochromic coatings could adjust their color in the visible wavelength range in a temperature range of 12 to 42 degrees C. Moreover, the obtained thermochromic coatings displayed a relatively high reflectance of up to 30-40% and can even be applied to flexible substrates. The CLC microcapsules with CNCs and an MF hybrid shell are promising in the field of smart decorative paints, anti-counterfeit labels, and artificial skins.
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