Printable meta-assemblies enable synergetic colouration

Biological systems achieve multifunctionality through the synergy of nanoscale building blocks and microscale morphological hierarchies, a multiscale structure that would be advantageous to implement in metamaterials^1-5. However, most artificial optical systems can only be fabricated on a single scale, facing the challenges of limited scalability, inadequate tunability and monotonous functionality^6-8. Here we present a printable meta-assembly strategy that enables the fabrication of multiscale hierarchical optical architectures through continuous roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing. The meta-assembly comprises low-cost polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles periodically embedded in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix, forming a nanolattice-based microconcave optical interface that enables precise integration of guided-wave and reflected-wave dispersion and interference^9-12. By optical coupling, distinct synergetic colouration is explored and experimentally realized with high designability and tunability. Overcoming scalability constraints, metre-scale meta-assembly prints with single-pixel customization can be rapidly fabricated from the nanoscale building blocks, spanning seven orders of magnitude in length. The vibrant prints exhibit controlled colour separation and integration performances, along with environmental stability, showing potential for eco-friendly colouration, intelligent displays and information security. This work provides a versatile methodology for biologically inspired metamaterial construction by means of multiscale photonics research.