Dyeing and Functionalization of Wearable Silk Fibroin/Cellulose Composite by Nanocolloidal Array

A wearable silk fibroin/cellulose composite is reported. It is structurally dyed and functionalized by embedding three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene nanocolloidal arrays to form opal and inverse opal silk methylcellulose photonic crystal films (SMPCF). The brilliant color of SMPCF is utilized for naked-eye detection of humidity and a trace amount (0.02%) of H₂O content in organic solvents. Volatile organic compounds gases of 5 types were detected. By alternately exposed to organic solvents of methanol, acetonitrile, acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, carbon tetrachloride, and toluene, 3D inverse opal SMPCF displayed an excellent sensing performance with instantaneously color changes from green to red. The organic solvent sensitive SMPCF are wearable by integrated into a rubber glove. This composite has the potential to be used in wearable real-time sensing materials.