Colour changing cup printed using gold nanoparticle ink
Infusing PVA with dichroic nanoparticles gives 3D printed objects interesting optical properties
A plastic cup that changes its colour and transparency thanks to the addition of dichroic gold nanoparticles has been 3D printed by researchers in the Netherlands. The gold nanoparticles they made are dichroic – they interact differently with certain wavelengths of light, reflecting some and transmitting others. This means they not only change the colour, but also the opacity of the material they are embedded in.