On-Chip Encapsulation of Quasi-Amorphous Photonic Materials with Controlled Shell Thickness

Abstract

Double emulsion micro-capsules exhibiting photonic colors are fabricated on a microfluidic chip with controlled shell thickness by utilizing a two-stage flow-focusing effect and an in situ UV polymerization technique. The colors of fabricated photonic capsules are controlled by changing the size of nanoparticles. Capsules exhibiting blue, green and red colors are successfully fabricated using quasi-amorphous photonic solution consisting of silica nanoparticles with diameter of d= 152 +/- 9.3, 180 +/- 9.0 and 225 +/- 14.9 nm respectively. The shell thickness of fabricated photonic capsules is controlled from 8.8 to 22.1 μm by adjusting the flow rate ratio injected into a micro fluidic chip.