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Structural Color Inkjet Printing With Mie-Resonant Silicon Nanoparticles
Hiroto Yamana1, Haruki Tanaka1, Hiroshi Sugimoto1
1Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Silicon nanoparticle (Si NP) inks were inkjet printed, showing different colors in reflection and transmission. This color asymmetry, tunable by NP size, enables novel structural color applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) offer unique optical properties.
- Color asymmetry in reflection and transmission is a key characteristic.
- Inkjet printing provides a scalable fabrication method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate inkjet printing of Si NP inks.
- To investigate the origin of color asymmetry in Si NP films.
- To develop multicolor patterns with tunable optical asymmetry.
Main Methods:
- Monte Carlo simulations to analyze optical response.
- Formulation of water-based Si NP inks with acrylic resin.
- Inkjet printing of Si NP films and multicolor patterns.
Main Results:
- Si NP films exhibited vivid structural colors with distinct reflective and transmissive hues.
- Color asymmetry was confirmed and its physical origin elucidated.
- Multicolor patterns with tunable optical asymmetry were successfully printed using Si NPs of varying diameters.
Conclusions:
- Si NPs are promising scalable pigments for structural color.
- The developed inks and printing method enable dichroic decorations.
- Potential applications include art, anti-counterfeiting, and smart windows.
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