Scalable patterning of nano-gratings on cylindrical surfaces using elliptical vibration cylindrical turning for novel realization of structural color

Structural color based on engineered nanostructures are of great interest in recent years due to its unprecedented high-resolution and high-density information encryption. To date, the majority of research endeavors have concentrated on the development of artificial structural colors on planar substrates, which restricts the extensive applicability of these techniques to the scalable production of structural color surfaces. In this paper, a novel elliptical vibration cylindrical turning (EVCT) method is introduced for the first time to the scalable patterning of nano-gratings on cylindrical surfaces within the framework of conventional turning operations. The influences of standard turning parameters and material properties on the topography of generated nano-gratings are systematically investigated from both theoretical modelling and experimental verification. Furthermore, to enhance the rendering capabilities of structural colors induced by cylindrical nano-gratings, innovative rendering methods for both single-color palettes and arbitrary color images are introduced. These methods involve the controlled manipulation of the diffraction effects through varying the spacing of the nano-gratings. In comparison to traditional patterning techniques utilized for planar structural color applications, the proposed EVCT method offers the flexibility necessary for seamless integration into industrial production processes, facilitating a diverse range of applications in information storage, cryptography, and anti-counterfeiting technologies.