Subwavelength Microlens-Functionalized Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) Textiles with Enhanced Color Performance

Textile dyeing remains a major environmental challenge due to its high water and chemical consumption. Herein, we presented a scalable antireflective coating (ARC) strategy to enhance color performance while reducing dye usage in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabrics. By thermally reshaping poly(methyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate-co-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PMGF) terpolymer nanoparticles into subwavelength-structured microlenses on PET, the resulting ARC minimized reflection through multiscale light trapping. The optimized ARC-coated PET exhibited a 29.49% increase in color yield (I %) with negligible chromatic deviation compared to pristine PET. The coated PET also exhibited high colorfastness, ensuring long-term durability. Notably, pilot-scale tests confirmed the excellent process stability and reproducibility of this approach. Additionally, the ARC coating demonstrated the potential to impart a deeper color to fabrics with reduced dye consumption. Furthermore, the technique demonstrated universal applicability across diverse hues (blue, black, and green), offering an enhanced coloration performance. The mechanisms of color management, based on selective light reflection, were elaborated, showing that the micro-nano-structure, morphology, and refractive indices collectively contributed to the desired color appearance by manipulating the interaction between visible light and PET fabric.