SnO2 Inverse Opal Composite Film with Low-Angle-Dependent Structural Color and Enhanced Mechanical Strength

Structural colors are attracting considerable attention for their advantages of environmental friendliness and resistance to fading. However, the weak mechanical strength and intrinsic iridescent color restrict their widespread application. This article describes a SnO2 inverse opal composite film with low-angle-dependent structural color and enhanced mechanical strength. In the present study, a direct template method was used to prepare SnO2 inverse opals, which were then embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The structural colors of obtained composite films were low angle-dependent due to light scattering and high effective refractive index. Meanwhile, because of the good physical strength of PDMS, structures of SnO2 inverse opals were provided with effective protection. No specific wavelength shift occurred during stretching, and exhibited excellent cycling stability. All these advantages indicated potential applications in packing and decorating materials.