Bioinspired fabrication of noniridescent structurally colored cotton fabric based on polystyrene@polycaffeic acid particles

Recently, the preparation of structurally colored fabrics based on polydopamine (PDA) has attracted extensive attention. However, the high price of dopamine seriously hinders its application in industry. Herein, we report a rational methodology to prepare polystyrene@polycaffeic acid (PS@PCfA) nanospheres by using NaBO3 as a trigger to promote the rapid polymerization of caffeic acid coated PS nanospheres with the help of cupric chloride (CuCl2). In addition, structurally colored fabrics with different colors were also prepared by controlling the size of PS nanoparticles. As a plant-derived polyphenol, caffeic acid has a similar structure to dopamine, rich in phenolic hydroxyl groups, and has excellent adhesion properties. It can coat the surface of colloidal nanospheres such as polystyrene to form black shell-core nanospheres for the preparation of structurally colored cotton fabric. Impressively, black PCfA can not only enhance the color visibility of the colorful coatings, but also enhance the bonding force between the nanospheres and between the nanospheres and the surface of fabric substrates. Prepared structurally colored fabric can withstand 90 min of launderings, 50 times reciprocating folding and 10 times reciprocating sandpaper abrasion test without obvious damage and destruction. Overall, these results open an alternative, cheap and efficient avenue to develop structurally colored fabric with good color fastness using plant polyphenols.

Automated summary

Utilizing caffeic acid for the fabrication of structurally colored nanospheres, the resulting fabrics exhibit vibrant colors and remarkable durability, suitable for various laundering and abrasion tests.