Rapid, linear, and highly reliable structural-color switching enabled by thermal regulation of chiral nematic mesophases.

[Display omitted] • Full-range structural coloration is enabled through temperature stimulation. • A rapid and linear response to temperature is realized in terms of color switching. • Reversible and stable color switching is achieved at least 100 cycles. • The color switching is used for sensors, decoration, and information encryption. Bioinspired dynamic structural-colored materials have shown wide applications in sensing, display, information encryption and security. However, because of restrictions of design principles, it remains a big challenge to break limitations of color control, color-changing rate, and repeatability. Here, we demonstrate fast, linear, and reliable structural-color modulations with a one-component chiral nematic mesophase following a thermally-induced phase separation mechanism. Molecular dynamic simulation reveals that the hydrogen bonding tunability between the mesophase and solvent dominates the fast and reversible phase transition behaviors that account for the fast and repeatable color responses. The photonic crystal displays wide-range (red-to-purple) colorations by controlling the mesophase concentration and external temperature. Due to the linear change of turbidity upon temperature stimuli, linearly programmable color regulations are enabled without color hysteresis. These features allow the development of multi-functional devices with applications for portable sensors, painting decoration, and information security encryption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]