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Author Spotlight: Advancements and Applications in Nanoparticle Synthesis Through Laser Ablation in Liquids
Published on: June 16, 2023
High-Brightness, Wide-Gamut, and High-Resolution Structural Colors via Ultrafast Laser Oxidation of Ti/TiO2 Films
Ruiyi Chen1,2, Wei Lyu3, Xiaoyu Sun1,4
1Zhejiang Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization, Department of Electronic and Information Engineering, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Abstract:
The scalable fabrication of high-brightness, wide-gamut, and high-resolution structural colors remains challenging due to the reliance on complex nanofabrication or coating techniques. Here, we demonstrate a facile and flexible approach to generating vivid structural colors via ultrafast laser processing of Ti-TiO2-Ti sandwich-structured thin films. The multilayer design enables controlled oxidation with oxide thicknesses exceeding 200 nm under laser irradiation. Optical characterization reveals dual absorption enhancement peaks and a reflection enhancement peak in the visible spectrum. By tuning the accumulated laser fluence, we modulate the oxidation state of Ti and the optical properties of TiO2, achieving vibrant structural colors with high reflectivity and a color gamut exceeding 80% sRGB. Peak reflectance reaches 60%, and the highest color difference (ΔE) control precision is less than 3. Moreover, a resolution up to 30 000 DPI is attained. The laser-induced structural colors exhibit excellent durability, passing standard tests for thermal stability and corrosion. This method enables direct patterning of high-luminance colors and holds promise for applications in art, anti-counterfeiting, signage, and flexible photonic devices.
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