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Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Fabrication of Ultra-thin Color Films with Highly Absorbing Media Using Oblique Angle Deposition
Published on: August 29, 2017
Transparent Polymer Opal Thin Films with Intense UV Structural Color
Giselle Rosetta1,2, Matthew Gunn1, John J Tomes1
1Department of Physics, Prifysgol Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3BZ, UK.
Abstract:
We report on shear-ordered polymer photonic crystals demonstrating intense structural color with a photonic bandgap at 270 nm. Our work examines this UV structural color, originating from a low refractive index contrast polymer composite system as a function of the viewing angle. We report extensive characterization of the angle-dependent nature of this color in the form of 'scattering cones', which showed strong reflectivity in the 275-315 nm range. The viewing range of the scattering was fully quantified for a number of planes and angles, and we additionally discuss the unique spectral anisotropy observed in these structures. Such films could serve as low-cost UV reflection coatings with applications in photovoltaics due to the fact of their non-photobleaching and robust mechanical behavior in addition to their favorable optical properties.
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