Structural Colored Liquid Membrane without Angle Dependence

Abstract

We have demonstrated for the first time that condensed gel particle suspensions in amorphous-like states display structural color with low angle dependence. This finding is in contrast to the common understanding that a periodic dielectric structure is fundamental to photonic band gap (PBG) production, and it validates the theory that a “tight bonding model” that is applicable to semiconductor systems can also be applied to photonic systems. More practically, this structural colored suspension represents a promising new material for the manufacture of reflective full-color displays with a wide viewing angle and nonfading color materials. This liquid system shows promise as a display material because electronic equipment used for display systems can easily be filled with the liquid in the same way that liquid crystals are currently used.