Kavli Affiliate: Vinothan N. Manoharan
| First 5 Authors: Victoria Hwang, Anna B. Stephenson, Solomon Barkley, Soeren Brandt, Ming Xiao
| Summary:
Disordered nanostructures with correlations on the scale of visible
wavelengths can show angle-independent structural colors. These materials could
replace dyes in some applications because the color is tunable and resists
photobleaching. However, designing nanostructures with a prescribed color is
difficult, especially when the application — cosmetics or displays, for
example — requires specific component materials. A general approach to solving
this constrained design problem is modeling and optimization: using a model
that predicts the color of a given system, one optimizes the model parameters
under constraints to achieve a target color. For this approach to work, the
model must make accurate predictions, which is challenging because disordered
nanostructures have multiple scattering. To address this challenge, we develop
a Monte Carlo model that simulates multiple scattering of light in disordered
arrangements of spherical particles or voids. The model produces quantitative
agreement with measurements when we account for roughness on the surface of the
film, particle polydispersity, and wavelength-dependent absorption in the
components. Unlike discrete numerical simulations, our model is parameterized
in terms of experimental variables, simplifying the connection between
simulation and fabrication. To demonstrate this approach, we reproduce the
color of the male mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) in an experimental
system, using prescribed components and a microstructure that is easy to
fabricate. Finally, we use the model to find the limits of angle-independent
structural colors for a given system. These results enable an engineering
design approach to structural color for many different applications.
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