Abstract
Recently, there has been much interest in applying the color changes of nano-patterned structures to sensor technology. However, the lithographic nano-patterning process is not environmentally friendly, and it is difficult to fabricate large areas of color due to limitations associated with this approach. In this study, we realized a highly tunable structural coloration based on a Fabry–Perot interferometer design that does not require nano-patterning processes. To increase the reflected color change according to the angle, a color element using an asymmetric metal–insulator–metal structure was applied, fabricated using silver–silicon dioxide–tin (Sn), respectively. Using the optical properties of Sn, we maximized the change in reflection color and realized three primary colors of subtractive color of cyan, magenta and yellow according to the angle of designed MIM structure. Theoretical and experimental results revealed that the color and intensity of the reflectance depended strongly on the angle of the reflective surfaces. The manufacturing process is simple and yields large surfaces of high quality. Based on this premise, we fabricated a soft robot capable of color camouflage, and an angle-detecting color sensor for inspecting the three-dimensional shape quality of curved glass with a high sensitivity of 1.8 nm/degree. In addition, we propose a shape evaluation method by color, spectrometry, and monochromatic light.
Highlights
The use of micro-nanotechnologies to obtain structural coloration has gained much attention recently
We fabricated a butterfly robot capable of color camouflage operated by a spring made of shape memory alloy (SMA) with a phase transition temperature of 40°, as shown in Fig. 1c (Figure S1, Supporting Information)
We developed a wireless color-based angle sensor based on a FP interferometer design that does not require nano-patterning processes
Summary
The use of micro-nanotechnologies to obtain structural coloration has gained much attention recently. The technology of color variation as an indication of structural features and physical mechanisms has been actively researched for applications involving display devices [1, 2], sensors [3, 4], and soft biosensors [5] for use in research, manufacturing, and smart factories. In contrast to conventional color technology that uses pigments or dye to color items via industrial processes, structural coloration is based on nano-patterns or multiple nano-film layers to generate color with light reflection In sensing applications involving reflected light, the resulting structural coloration according to the angle of the reflected surface can be useful
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