Photo-tuning of highly selective wetting in inverse opalsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental methods, including preparation of IOFs, surface functionalization with p(DR1A-co-AA), Fig. S1, showing the p(DR1A-co-AA) 1H NMR spectrum, and Fig. S2-S4, showing the wetting behaviour of the films under visible irradiation. See DOI: 10.1039/c3sm52684d

Crack-free inverse opals exhibit a sharply defined threshold wettability for infiltration that has enabled their use as colourimetric indicators for liquid identification. Here we demonstrate direct and continuous photo-tuning of this wetting threshold in inverse opals whose surfaces are functionalized with a polymer doped with azobenzene chromophores. We demonstrate direct and continuous photo-tuning of highly selective wetting in inverse opals functionalized with a chromophore-containing polyelectrolyte surface layer.