Abstract

Structural color arises in periodic materials due to multiple internal reflections, interference and diffraction of light waves as well as random scattering. Bright, angle-independent colors of some natural systems, such as wings of butterflies and bugs, scales of fish, etc., originate from the structural factors rather than light absorption or emission [1]. There is a considerable interest in realizing structural color in artificial systems to achieve pigment-free, non-fading, bright colors[2], but this is a challenging task because 3D patterning sub-micron resolution is required to achieve structural color in the visible spectral range. Here, we describe realization of controllable structural color using 3D woodpile architecture photonic crystals (PhC) fabricated in photoresist by femtosecond Direct Laser Write (DLW) technique.

© 2013 Japan Society of Applied Physics, Optical Society of America