Research on the preparation of colloidal photonic crystals and the anti-counterfeiting applications

Abstract

Abstract Anti-counterfeiting materials based on colloidal photonic crystals (PCs) have been widely studied due to their inimitable structural color and adjustable photonic band gap (PBG). And the patterned colloidal photonic crystals have been well applied in the field of anti-counterfeiting because of their easy preparation, high performance, and functionalization. The methods for preparing patterned colloidal photonic crystals are outlined, including vertical deposition, spin coating, spraying, and inkjet printing techniques. In this paper, the applications of patterned photonic crystals in the anti-counterfeiting field and their advantages are discussed, the future development of patterned photonic crystals and the challenges they face are also prospected.