Annabelle Tan, Zain Ahmad, Pete Vukusic, and João T. Cabral
Published: 10 February 2023 | Imperial College London and University of Exeter
Abstract
We investigate the combined effects of surface diffraction and total internal reflection (TIR) in the design of 3-dimensional materials exhibiting distinct structural colour on various facets. We employ mechanical wrinkling to introduce surface diffraction gratings (from the nano to the micron scales) on one face of an elastomeric rectangular parallelepiped-shaped slab and explore the roles, in the perceived colours, of wrinkling pattern, wavelength, the directionality of incident light and observation angles. We propose a simple model that satisfactorily accounts for all experimental observations. Employing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which readily swells in the presence of various liquids and gases, we demonstrate that such multifaceted colours can respond to their environment. By coupling a right angle triangular prism with a surface grating, we demonstrate the straightforward fabrication of a so-called GRISM (GRating + prISM). Finally, using a range of examples, we outline possibilities for a predictive material design using multi-axial wrinkling patterns and more complex polyhedra.
Keywords: structural colour; multifaceted; diffraction; total internal reflection (TIR); polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); wrinkling; plasma oxidation; multiaxial; polyhedra; GRISM
… Structural colour spectra were recorded using BLACK-Comet UV-VIS Spectrometer (StellarNet Inc, Tampa, FL, USA) …
