Abstract
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed an inorganic paint pigment that can be used to produce vivid color space at less cost. The UCF invention employs a highly reproducible self-assembling technique where aluminum particles are formed through a temperature- and pressure-dependent thin-film growth mechanism in an ultra-high vacuum electron beam evaporator. The process of forming a self-assembled plasmonic surface is compatible with and takes on the scattering properties of underlying arbitrary substrates. The result is a completely diffusive, angle-independent and flexible plasmonic color surface.
Technical Details
The UCF invention is an inorganic paint pigment and methods for making the pigment. In one example, the inorganic paint pigment comprises a fluid matrix of paint flakes. The matrix contains a solution, a polymer resin, a binder fluid for effectively coating objects, and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). A paint flake consists of a common aluminum mirror layer with two opposing surfaces, each with a plasmonic aluminum reflector layer. The combined layers serve as an oxide layer over the common aluminum layer. In this structure, the self-assembled aluminum particles form through a temperature and pressure-dependent thin-film growth mechanism in an ultra-high vacuum electron beam evaporator. The narrow, sub-10 nm gaps between particles and the mirror hybridize individual plasmonic modes and manifest a single angle-insensitive resonance with near 100 percent absorption.
By developing the structure on a sacrificial polymer layer, the metal film can be released with sonication into an aqueous or similar solution to form suspended flakes. To guarantee that color is seen from the flakes regardless of orientation, the nanoparticle system is assembled on both surfaces surrounding the aluminum mirror. Each paint flake is symmetric about the common aluminum layer.
Partnering Opportunity
The research team is seeking partners for licensing and/or research collaboration.
Stage of Development
Prototype available.
Benefit
Compatible with and takes on the scattering properties of underlying substratesEnables color to form uniformly on varying surfacesCan result in completely diffusive, angle-independent and flexible plasmonic colorMarket Application
Color films for displaysPaints and protectantsOptoelectronic devicesConsumer product colorationPublications
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