Articles and methods for generation of tunable coloration and interference
AssigneesMassachusetts Institute of Technology, The Penn State Research Foundation
InventorsLauren Dell Zarzar, Sara N. Nagelberg, Mathias Kolle, Amy Goodling
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Abstract
The present invention generally relates to the generation of tunable coloration and/or interference from, for example, surfaces, emulsion droplets and particles. Embodiments described herein may be useful for generation of tunable electromagnetic radiation such as coloration (e.g., iridescence, structural color) and/or interference patterns from, for example, surfaces (e.g., comprising a plurality of microdomes and/or microwells), emulsion droplets and/or particles. In some embodiments, the surfaces, interfaces, droplets, and/or particles produce visible color (e.g., structural color) without the need for dyes.
Claims25
An article, comprising:
- a first component and a second component adjacent the first component;
- and a curved microscale interface between the first component and the second component, the interface configured such that at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation incident to a surface of the interface undergoes total internal reflection between the first component and the second component,
- wherein the first component has a first refractive index greater than a second refractive index of the second component;
- and
- wherein the electromagnetic radiation undergoes a change in amplitude during total internal reflection.
An article, comprising:
- a plurality of domed structures formed on a substrate, the substrate comprising a first material;
- a second component adjacent the plurality of domed structures and comprising a second material;
- wherein the first material has a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the second material, such that incident electromagnetic radiation undergoes total internal reflection at a curved surface of each domed structure at a microscale interface between the first material and the second material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.