Fabrication of Tunable, High-Refractive-Index Titanate-Silk Nanocomposites on the Micro- and Nanoscale

Abstract

The combination of water-based titanate nanosheets dispersion and silk fibroin solution allows the realization of a versatile nanocomposite. Different fabrication techniques can be easily applied on these nanocomposites to manipulate the end form of these materials on the micro- and nanoscale. Easy tunability of the refractive index from n = 1.55 up to n = 1.97 is achieved, making it attractive for flexible, biopolymer-based optical devices.

Keywords: functional materials; nanocomposites; optical materials; silk; titanate nanosheets.