Fabrication of Prussian Blue Dye/SiO2 Composite Microspheres and Their Structurally Coloration on White Fabrics

Abstract

Structural coloration is renowned for its vibrant hues and environmental compatibility; however, it frequently exhibits unsatisfactory chromatic performance on white substrates. To enhance the color saturation of structural colors on white textiles, this study engineered composite structural units by electrostatically adsorbing Prussian blue (PB) dye onto silica (SiO₂) microspheres, forming core–shell architectures with outer dye coatings. Two fabrication approaches—spray coating and gravity sedimentation—were employed to construct structural colors on white polyester fabrics. The results demonstrated that Prussian blue dye/SiO₂ composite microspheres (SiO₂@PB) enabled vivid structural coloration on white textiles. Notably, the spray-coating method promoted a more ordered and regular arrangement of SiO₂@Prussian blue microspheres across fabric surfaces compared to gravity sedimentation, thereby yielding superior structural color performance. This methodology effectively circumvents the conventional requirement for black substrates, achieving high-contrast structural coloration directly on white textile matrices, while streamlining the textile coloration process. The proposed strategy establishes a viable pathway for improving structural color quality in white textiles, with potential implications for sustainable pigment-free manufacturing.