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Color Tunable, Lithography-Free Refractory Metal-Oxide Metacoatings with a Graded Refractive Index Profile
Joshua Perkins1, Haoyang Cheng1, Chris Craig2
1Nanoscale Optics Lab, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2R3, Edmonton, Canada.
Nano Letters
|March 30, 2023
Summary
Refractory metal-oxide semiconductors form tunable nanophononic metacoatings. These coatings produce vibrant structural color across the visible spectrum via periodic refractive index profiles achieved through annealing.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Refractory metal-oxide semiconductors are underutilized for nanophononics.
- They possess high melting points and tunable optical properties via stoichiometry and ion intercalation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore refractory metal-oxide semiconductors as a platform for nanophononic metamaterial coatings (metacoatings).
- To demonstrate the creation of tunable structural color in these metacoatings.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of periodic metal-oxide layers (≤20 nm) with graded refractive indices.
- Utilizing bottom-up thermal annealing techniques for large-area metacoating formation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated metacoatings with periodic, graded refractive index profiles.
- Achieved vibrant structural color tunable across the visible spectrum.
- Metacoatings were produced over ultralarge lateral areas.
Conclusions:
- Refractory metal-oxide semiconductors offer a promising route to advanced nanophononic metacoatings.
- Tunable structural color and large-area fabrication are key advantages.
