Articles and methods for generating tunable coloration and interference upon reflection of incident electromagnetic radiation
AssigneeThe Penn State Research Foundation
InventorsLauren Dell ZARZAR, Caleb Huw MEREDITH, Nathaniel Erik STURNIOLO
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Abstract
Disclosed are articles, embodiments, and methods of formation related substrates which exhibit a tunable interference pattern (e.g., structural color) upon reflection of incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claims78
A substrate exhibiting in interference pattern upon illumination by incident electromagnetic radiation, the substrate comprising
- a first material having a surface and comprising plurality of microstructures disposed on or within the surface;
- and
- a reflective layer disposed on and abutting the first material, thereby forming a reflective surface on or within each of the plurality of microstructures;
- wherein each of the microstructures have a height and a width of at least 1 micron;
- wherein the reflective surface is structured such that a portion of electromagnetic radiation incident a surface of the substrate at an illumination angle undergoes two or more reflections within the microstructure, thereby generating an interference pattern upon incident illumination.
A substrate exhibiting in interference pattern upon illumination by incident electromagnetic radiation, the substrate comprising
- a reflective material having a reflective surface and comprising plurality of microstructures disposed on or within the surface;
- wherein each of the microstructures have a height and a width of at least 1 micron;
- wherein the reflective surface of each of the plurality of microstructures are structured such that a portion of electromagnetic radiation incident a surface of the substrate at an illumination angle undergoes two or more reflections within the microstructure, thereby generating an interference pattern upon incident illumination.
The substrate of any of claims 42-73, wherein electromagnetic radiation reflected by the plurality of microstructures exhibits structural color.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.