The self-assembly and deposition mechanisms of nanoparticles in droplets on a substrate are significant in many inkjet printing-based industrial applications such as microelectronics, display systems, and paint manufacturing. In this study, we describe the underlying lack mechanisms of the self-assembly and deposition behavior of nanoparticles in inkjet-printed. We also demonstrate the development of flexible and photonic crystals structural color based on self-assembled silica photonic crystals. © 2017 IEEE.