Smart color designs with Ag and Au metal island films: a theoretical study

Multilayer structures incorporating silver and gold metal island films embedded in two different dielectrics are designed to achieve the reflectance of three clearly distinct colors, based on the presence of both Au only or the complete absence of the metal island films in the structure. The designs are specially developed to enable multispectral filter array fabrication in the least number of steps, in particular, only in one deposition run. The designs were generated considering specific feasibility restrictions regarding metal island film deposition, their optical performance, and potential process of their selective removal. Also, it was found which color combinations can be realized with the chosen materials and fabrication limitations.