Single pixel wide gamut dynamic color modulation based on a graphene micromechanical system.

Abstract

Dynamic color modulation in the composite structure of a graphene microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-photonic crystal microcavity is investigated in this work. The designed photonic crystal microcavity has three resonant standing wave modes corresponding to the three primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B), forming strong localization of light in three modes at different positions of the microcavity. Once graphene is added, it can govern the transmittance of three modes. When graphene is located in the antinode of the standing wave, it has strong light absorption and therefore the structure's transmittance is lower, and when graphene is located in the node of the standing wave, it has weak light absorption and therefore the structure's transmittance is higher. Therefore, the graphene absorption of different colors of light can be regulated dynamically by applying voltages to tune the equilibrium position of the graphene MEMS in the microcavity, consequently realizing the output of vivid monochromatic light or multiple mixed colors of light within a single pixel, thus greatly improving the resolution. Our work provides a route to dynamic color modulation with graphene and provides guidance for the design and manufacture of high resolution, fast modulation and wide color gamut interferometric modulator displays.