Investigation and Manipulation of Structural Color Produced from Microscale Concave Interfaces in Fluid and Solid Systems
Open Access
Author:
Gregg, Amanda
Area of Honors:
Materials Science and Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Lauren Dell Zarzar, Thesis Supervisor Robert Allen Kimel, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
structural color color materials science materials engineering emulsions surfactants lasing modeling polymers optics
Abstract:
Structural color via total internal reflection at microscale concave interfaces was studied
to contribute to the fundamental understanding of this novel mechanism of structural color.
Additionally, potential applications for the technology were explored. First, color in double
emulsion droplets was investigated, as the phenomenon was not expected in droplets of this
morphology. As part of this work, molecular models of the droplets were created to better
understand and visualize the interactions of the surfactant, oil, and water molecules at the oil-water interface as well as spacing between molecules. Droplets were found to a nonideal medium
in which to study this color, due to challenges in creating monodisperse droplets, drift of the
droplets in the dish, and solubilization of the oil into the aqueous phase. Polymer microstructures
were found to be easier to study and fabricate than the droplets, with more directions for study
and applications. Since the color produced can be modified by changing the width of the
structures, infrared lasing was found to be an effective tool to increase the width and therefore,
change the color. Although the deformation needed to modify the color was too small to be
measured accurately, it was found that the microstructures can no longer produce color past a 4
μm change in width. These results could be used to create an inkless printing technology for
anticounterfeiting features and product design.
