Core-shell based responsive colloidal photonic crystals for facile, rapid, visual detection of acetone

Responsive core-shell microspheres of polystyrene@poly(methyl methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-acrylic acid) [PS@poly(MMA-EGDMA-AA] were obtained by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization and were employed for the preparation of monolithic polystyrene-based colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs) via evaporation induced-vertical deposition method. CPCs of distinct photonic stop band (PSB), which falls in the visible light region that exhibits brilliant structural colors were obtained by tuning the diameters of the core-shell microspheres. Further, as-fabricated CPCs were used for the facile, rapid visual detection of acetone by way of reversibly tuning the PSB of the CPCs with an apparent visual color change within fraction of a second. The present study demonstrates the feasibility of PS@poly(MMA-EGDMA-AA)-based CPCs as a simple, quick and reversible sensing platform for the detection of acetone. Reversible, ultrafast color shifting colloidal photonic crystal platforms made of responsive core-shell microspheres of polystyrene@poly(methylmethacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-acrylic acid). [Display omitted] •Responsive core-shell microspheres of PS@poly(MMA-EGDMA-AA) were synthesized by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization.•Monolithic polystyrene colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs) were prepared via evaporation induced-vertical deposition method.•The diameters of the polymer shells were tuned to modulate the shift in color of the photonic crystals.•The fabricated CPCs showed selective, rapid, reversible and visual response to acetone.