Angle-independent pH-sensitive composites with natural gyroid structure

Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 6:7:42207. doi: 10.1038/srep42207.

Abstract

pH sensor is an important and practical device with a wide application in environmental protection field and biomedical industries. An efficient way to enhance the practicability of intelligent polymer composed pH sensor is to subtilize the three-dimensional microstructure of the materials, adding measurable features to visualize the output signal. In this work, C. rubi wing scales were combined with pH-responsive smart polymer polymethylacrylic acid (PMAA) through polymerization to achieve a colour-tunable pH sensor with nature gyroid structure. Morphology and reflection characteristics of the novel composites, named G-PMAA, are carefully investigated and compared with the original biotemplate, C. rubi wing scales. The most remarkable property of G-PMAA is a single-value corresponding relationship between pH value and the reflection peak wavelength (λmax), with a colour distinction degree of 18 nm/pH, ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of the output. The pH sensor reported here is totally reversible, which is able to show the same results after several detection circles. Besides, G-PMAA is proved to be not influenced by the detection angle, which makes it a promising pH sensor with superb sensitivity, stability, and angle-independence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Butterflies / anatomy & histology
  • Butterflies / chemistry*
  • Color
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Optical Devices*
  • Polymerization
  • Polymethacrylic Acids / chemistry*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Wings, Animal / anatomy & histology
  • Wings, Animal / chemistry*

Substances

  • Polymethacrylic Acids