Graphene quantum dot-coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed Bragg reflector absorption

Abstract Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) absorptive materials have broad applications in optical fibre communications, solar cells, and other fields. This study adopts dispersion polymerization to prepare monodisperse polystyrene (PS) microspheres. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are prepared using t...

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Main Authors: Binglang Chang, Lin Yi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92529-0
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author Binglang Chang
Lin Yi
author_facet Binglang Chang
Lin Yi
author_sort Binglang Chang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) absorptive materials have broad applications in optical fibre communications, solar cells, and other fields. This study adopts dispersion polymerization to prepare monodisperse polystyrene (PS) microspheres. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are prepared using the ultrasonic dispersion method. By coating GQDs on surfaces of PS spheres, the micron-sized core-extremely thin shell, PS@GQDs structures are self-assembled successfully. Finally, using the improved gravity sedimentation, the unconventional colloidal crystals of PS@GQDs structures are fabricated and characterized for the first time. The unconventional colloidal crystals of PS@GQDs exhibit tunable DBR scattering absorption, ranging from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared, which is unlike the conventional DBR. The experimental observations and measurements indicate that the modification of the PS surface significantly red-shifted in the ultraviolet-near infrared bands (300–1200 nm). The interference fringes of GQDs of various sizes with PS spheres formed Bragg reflectors, creating larger amplitudes below 1200 nm. Raman spectra show that the colloidal crystals display the peaks of polystyrene with a red-shift. The numerical simulations indicate that the DBR phenomena can be understood as the topological excitations at the structure transitions in the plasmon resonances and photonic band crossovers.
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spelling doaj-art-8db322605c044aa68ab2efeb25dd7a592025-08-20T03:01:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-92529-0Graphene quantum dot-coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed Bragg reflector absorptionBinglang Chang0Lin Yi1School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologySchool of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) absorptive materials have broad applications in optical fibre communications, solar cells, and other fields. This study adopts dispersion polymerization to prepare monodisperse polystyrene (PS) microspheres. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are prepared using the ultrasonic dispersion method. By coating GQDs on surfaces of PS spheres, the micron-sized core-extremely thin shell, PS@GQDs structures are self-assembled successfully. Finally, using the improved gravity sedimentation, the unconventional colloidal crystals of PS@GQDs structures are fabricated and characterized for the first time. The unconventional colloidal crystals of PS@GQDs exhibit tunable DBR scattering absorption, ranging from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared, which is unlike the conventional DBR. The experimental observations and measurements indicate that the modification of the PS surface significantly red-shifted in the ultraviolet-near infrared bands (300–1200 nm). The interference fringes of GQDs of various sizes with PS spheres formed Bragg reflectors, creating larger amplitudes below 1200 nm. Raman spectra show that the colloidal crystals display the peaks of polystyrene with a red-shift. The numerical simulations indicate that the DBR phenomena can be understood as the topological excitations at the structure transitions in the plasmon resonances and photonic band crossovers.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92529-0
spellingShingle Binglang Chang
Lin Yi
Graphene quantum dot-coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed Bragg reflector absorption
Scientific Reports
title Graphene quantum dot-coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed Bragg reflector absorption
title_full Graphene quantum dot-coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed Bragg reflector absorption
title_fullStr Graphene quantum dot-coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed Bragg reflector absorption
title_full_unstemmed Graphene quantum dot-coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed Bragg reflector absorption
title_short Graphene quantum dot-coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed Bragg reflector absorption
title_sort graphene quantum dot coated polystyrene microsphere multilayer colloidal crystals with distributed bragg reflector absorption
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92529-0
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AT linyi graphenequantumdotcoatedpolystyrenemicrospheremultilayercolloidalcrystalswithdistributedbraggreflectorabsorption