Grayscale-patterned metal-hydrogel-metal microscavity for dynamic multi-color display

Zhang Jian; Wang Dandan; Ying Yunbin; Zhou Hao; Liu Xiaokai; Hu Xin; Chen Yingxin; Li Qiang; Zhang Xuefeng; Qiu Min

doi:10.1515/nanoph-2021-0413

Nanophotonics (Oct 2021)

Grayscale-patterned metal-hydrogel-metal microscavity for dynamic multi-color display

Zhang Jian,
Wang Dandan,
Ying Yunbin,
Zhou Hao,
Liu Xiaokai,
Hu Xin,
Chen Yingxin,
Li Qiang,
Zhang Xuefeng,
Qiu Min

Affiliations

Zhang Jian: College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Advanced Magnetic Materials, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
Wang Dandan: College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Advanced Magnetic Materials, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
Ying Yunbin: State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, P. R. China
Zhou Hao: College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Advanced Magnetic Materials, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
Liu Xiaokai: College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Advanced Magnetic Materials, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
Hu Xin: College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Advanced Magnetic Materials, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
Chen Yingxin: College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Advanced Magnetic Materials, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
Li Qiang: State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, P. R. China
Zhang Xuefeng: College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Advanced Magnetic Materials, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China
Qiu Min: Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou310024, P. R. China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2021-0413
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 16
pp. 4125 – 4131

Abstract

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Dynamic structural color based on tunable optical resonance plays a key role in applications including encryption visualization, camouflage and colorimetric sensing. However, the current design requires either complex growth processes of the high-quality tunable materials or complicated circuit designs. This work makes a humidity-swelling hydrogel layer for metal–insulator–metal (MIM) structure in the dynamic multi-color display. Here, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel structure is patterned through grayscale e-beam lithography and the controlled PVA thickness leads the programmable reflective resonance covering the entire visible range. By varying the ambient humidity between 9.8 and 90.1% RH, the reflective resonance of the structure is tailored across a wavelength range over 100 nm. Our materials platform of humidity-sensitive hydrogel resist presents a novel approach of the stepwise and reversible optical tunability for photonic devices.

Published in Nanophotonics

ISSN: 2192-8606 (Print); 2192-8614 (Online)
Publisher: De Gruyter
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: https://www.degruyter.com/journal/key/nanoph/html#submit

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