Inverse opals with reactive surface chemistry as sensors for aqueous pollutants.

Inverse opal colorimetric sensors operating on wetting transitions usually rely on physical differences of the infiltrating liquid. Here, we exploit a reactive surface chemistry that changes wettability upon binding of an analyte. Upon binding of Fe 3+ to a Schiff base immobilized on the porous structure, the surface becomes more hydrophilic, triggering the infiltration of the structure and causing the structural color to disappear.