Printable structural colors and their emerging applications

Structural colors originate from the physical interaction between light and specific micro-or nanostructured matters. They have gained significant scientific and industrial interest due to their intriguing properties, including color purity, fade-resistance, and eco-friendliness. In particular, the printable structural colors offer unique advantages of simple fabrication processes, arbitrary shapes and scalability, which make them highly promising for various applications. In this review, we begin with an overview of the fundamental physical mechanisms of structural colors based on film interference, diffraction gratings, light scattering, total internal reflection, resonances, and Bragg diffraction, then systematically analyzes the printing strategies, such as three-dimensional (3D) printing, inkjet printing, laser printing, spray printing, and nanoimprinting. The third part focuses on the emerging applications, including display, information security, sensor, actuator, and solar energy harvesting. We conclude with a discussion of current challenges and potential future developments in the field of printable structural colors. This review aims to accelerate the development of new and innovative printable structural color for future applications.