Affiliation:
1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China Normal University Shanghai 200062 China
2. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Mianyang Normal University Mianyang 621000 China
3. State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular and Process Engineering (SKLPMPE) Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Processing Co. LTD. Beijing 100083 China
4. Institute of Eco‐Chongming Shanghai 202162 China
Abstract
AbstractThermochromic photonic crystals are promising materials for thermal printing due to their unfaded colors under chemical/illuminated environments and the absence of toxic chemicals. However, the slow thermochromic response, the multistep printing procedures, the use of inks or developing liquids, and the requirement of expensive parts in printers limit their applications. Here, a thermochromic polyurethane/hydrophobic‐SiO2 photonic crystal/paraffin (PU/HPO‐SiO2‐PC/Para) film with an integrated multilayer structure is fabricated for all‐solid‐state and single‐step thermal printing that is fully compatible with commercial printers. The fast thermochromic response in milliseconds enables high‐resolution and grayscale printing as the paraffin infiltration and the color change can be finely controlled in a microscale range. The integrated and hydrophobic multilayer structure renders the thermochromic film good stability in daily liquids, which addresses the long‐existing concern of print fading. Meanwhile, the integrated multilayer structure also enhances the mechanical stability when it is deposited on fibrous paper so that people can fold, cut, or staple the thermal papers, and make notes confidently in practical usage.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Mechanical Engineering,Mechanics of Materials,General Materials Science