High-resolution multilevel reversible color printing based on Sb2S3 phase change materials

Phase change material is promising for a color-changing device owing to its substantial optical contrast between amorphous and crystalline states. However, current phase change material, such as Ge2Sb2Te5 thin film, has restrained the color-changing performance owing to its high optical absorption. Sb2S3 thin film, exhibiting large refractive index difference and low absorption between crystalline and amorphous states, is a promising alternative. Here, a color device with Al/Sb2S3/SiO2-stacking layer is prepared, and high-resolution, multilevel, reversible color printing is realized. Wide color gamut is successfully obtained by controlling either the Sb2S3 thickness or its crystallization degree. Furthermore, the proposed color device can be patterned by direct laser writing and erased by a picosecond laser system, possessing good reversible cycling stability. High-resolution pixel higher than 42,000 DPI is further implemented. Moreover, a flexible color device is also fabricated, which possesses superior angular insensitivity from 10 degrees to 60 degrees and is hardly faded after bending and folding 10 times. This work may have wide applications in the fields of color printing, flexible displays, wearable optoelectronic devices, and so forth. (c) 2025 Chinese Laser Press