Constructing on-demand photoreversible mono/multi-color switching fabrics with plasmonic in-doped ZnO catalyzed systems

Abstract Photoreversible color switching fabrics have attracted much interest by using plasmonic semiconductor-catalyzed systems with simultaneous high photocatalytic and photothermal effects, while such kinds of semiconductors are rarely reported. In this work, with ZnO as a model, we report the tuning of plasmonic performances of ZnO nanocrystals by doping various concentrations of indium ions through a solvothermal route. Indium doping not only confers size evolution but also incorporates ZnO lattices with a high concentration of free electrons that result in extended plasmonic photoabsorption, simultaneously achieving high photocatalytic and photothermal performances. The plasmonic In-doped ZnO nanocrystals, along with redox dyes, can be conveniently utilized for the design of a series of novel semiconductor-catalyzed color switching systems, including mono-color (red, green, blue) and multi-color switching (red, yellow, blue) systems, which rapidly respond to 365 nm light for photocatalytic discoloration and 980 nm light-induced photothermal heating for recoloration (in air). Furthermore, with methylcellulose as the polymer matrix, the plasmonic In-doped ZnO catalyzed systems can be further processed into switchable fabrics/papers, exhibiting excellent mono/multi-color response features. Based on the manipulation of the interactions between light and plasmonic semiconductor-catalyzed systems, the rewritable fabrics/papers exhibit a broad range of highly reversible photochromic features, showing great potential for application as advanced sensors and rewritable media.