Issue 8, 2021

Anisotropic silica colloids for light scattering

Abstract

Scattering enhancers are a class of nanomaterials used in every colored or white material surrounding us: from paints and inks to food and cosmetics to packaging and paper. Such hiding pigments usually consist of non-absorbing, high refractive index nanoparticles, for example spherically shaped titanium dioxide nanopowders. However use of TiO2 carries a high environmental burden. To offset the carbon footprint and health concerns inherent with the use of titanium dioxide, one could approach the challenge of scattering optimization by modifying the morphology of the scattering elements rather than their refractive index. Here, inspired by the bright anisotropic scattering system found in nature, we demonstrate that anisotropic sphero-cylindrical particles can outperform the scattering efficiency of their isotropic counterparts – obtaining an excellent scattering performances across the visible electromagnetic spectrum. We developed a class of micron-sized scattering enhancers composed only of silica. We show that these cylindrical colloids are easily assembled into scattering supracolloidal balls, a new class of pigment microspheres which can be used in formulations for ultrabright coatings.

Graphical abstract: Anisotropic silica colloids for light scattering

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
06 jan 2021
Accepted
26 jan 2021
First published
02 feb 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2021,9, 2695-2700

Anisotropic silica colloids for light scattering

G. Jacucci, B. W. Longbottom, C. C. Parkins, S. A. F. Bon and S. Vignolini, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2021, 9, 2695 DOI: 10.1039/D1TC00072A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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