Tunable structural coloration of ultrathin zirconia nanotubes film
Xidi Sun, Huiwen Yu, Cheng-Yan Zhao, Jing Zhang, Yi Shi, Lijia Pan
Abstract
Zirconium (Zr) is a rare metal widely used in aerospace and military applications. However, its single color does not meet the requirements of camouflage and aesthetics. Here, a series of ultrathin structural colorations of Zr by coating it with a one‐step anodization procedure were realized. Tunable colors of ultrathin zirconia (ZrO 2 ) films can be obtained by adjusting the anodization time and can be tuned throughout the entire visible range. The structural color could endure 30,000 s of rinsing tests, 400 °C heat resistance tests, and over 480 h of intense ultraviolet irradiation. Zr/ZrO 2 films may have potential in color displays, camouflage, and anti‐counterfeiting technology.