Reflective color filter with precise control of the color coordinate achieved by stacking silicon nanowire arrays onto ultrathin optical coatings

The engineering of structural colors is currently a promising, rapidly emerging research field because structural colors of outstanding spatial resolution and durability can be generated using a sustainable production method. However, the restricted and saturated color range in micro/nano-fabricated structural ‘pigments’ has hindered the dissemination of structural color printing. Here, this article presents a spectral mixing color filter (SMCF), which is the concept of fine-tunable color systems, capable of addressing the current issues in structural color engineering, by stacking a vertical silicon nanowire array embedded in a transparent polymer onto ultrathin optical coating layers. These two photonic structures enable independent tuning the optical resonance of each structure, depending on geometrical parameters, such as the diameter of nanowires and thickness of absorbing medium. Hence, the SMCF facilitates the linear combination of two resonant spectra, thereby enabling fine-tuning and widening of the color gamut. Theoretical studies and experimental results reveal the detailed working mechanisms and extraordinary mechanical feature of the SMCF. Based on the analyses, the concept of flexible optical device, e.g., a reflective anti-counterfeiting sticker, is demonstrated. Successful characterization demonstrates that the proposed strategy can promote the color controllability/purity of structural color and the applicability as flexible optical device.