Synthesis of ultrathin TiO₂/Ti films with tunable structural color

A series of ultrathin TiO₂/Ti films with iridescent structural colors were fabricated on high-purity titanium sheets via a one-step anodization procedure. Tunable color in the films can be obtained by adjusting the anodization time and can be adjusted across the entire visible range. It was found that all the films displayed highly saturated colors. Trichromatic coordinates of color x, y were delineated, and the color was identified by positioning the x and y values in the Commission International de I'Eclairage chromaticity diagram. Theoretical and experimental results of the changes in the structural color according to the principle of complementary colors are consistent with the experimental results. The TiO₂/Ti films may have potential in color displays, decoration, and anticounterfeiting technology.