SEMINAR

Microscale colloids have emerged as a versatile platform for sensing applications, with the ability to be manipulated by various chemical and physical phenomena. The soft boundaries of colloids make them well-suited for exploiting self-assembling polymers, which can lead to synergistic effects. In this talk, I will present the recent breakthrough in the design of intelligent polymer colloids driven by phase separation upon solvent evaporation from interface-engineered emulsions. This talk begins with the introduction of full-color reflective photonic polymer particles, characterized by their shape and color changing capabilities through various stimuli, such as magnetic field and pH variation. The design principle of surfactant molecules and their phase separation toward unique morphology (i.e., Janus colloids and ellipsoids) will be explained. Additionally, we propose the creation of solvent-mediated, photo-switchable shape-changing polymer particles through the design of spiropyran-based surfactants that dynamically modulate amphiphilicity and interfacial activity in response to light of a specific wavelength. Our photonic colloids present a powerful strategy for designing and engineering responsive materials with captivating visual effects and open up new possibilities for smart photonic pigments and photonic devices.