Nano-ridge plasmonic structural colors fabricated by roll-to-roll hot-embossing

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Structural colors offer durability and a wide color gamut for applications like anti-counterfeiting and wearables.
• Current limitations in structural color deployment stem from complex device fabrication and high costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel plasmonic structural color system based on periodical nano-ridges.
• To demonstrate a cost-effective and scalable fabrication method for structural colors.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of aluminum nano-ridges on a polymer film via nano-imprinting.
• Excitation of metal and dielectric hybrid waveguide modes for surface plasmonic resonance.
• Characterization of optical properties, including angle- and polarization-dependent reflections.

Main Results:

• The proposed aluminum nano-ridges excite hybrid waveguide modes, creating broad dips in the reflection spectrum.
• Fabricated structures exhibit angle-dependent and polarization-dependent chromatic reflections.
• The design allows for efficient excitation of surface plasmonic resonance for transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light.

Conclusions:

• The developed plasmonic structural color offers a viable solution for low-cost anti-counterfeiting.
• The roll-to-roll nano-imprinting process enables mass production of these structural colors.
• This technology advances the practical application of structural colors in various fields.