A colored hydrophobic peptide film based on self-assembled two-fold topology.

Structural colors are abundant in nature and bear advantages over pigment-based colors, such as higher durability, brilliance and often physical hydrophobicity, thus underlying their vast potential for technological applications. Recently, biomimetics of complex natural topologies resulting in such effects has been extensively studied, requiring advanced processing and fabrication techniques. Yet, artificial topologies combining structural coloration and hydrophobicity have not been reported.