Active display illumination technology generates a surplus of energy demand. Reflective displays (using thin films) that do not require active illumination can stifle this demand. However, these display technologies are challenging to employ in low-light conditions due to a lack of active light sources.
The reflection of optical rays within a polymer-embedded microsphere introduces reflective microscale concave interfaces (MCIs). Depending on the illumination and observation conditions, exit rays from a single edge and opposite edges will introduce completely different interference mechanisms, resulting in diverse angle-dependent hues.
The MCI can find uses in intelligent signage and pixelated reflective displays. The application will require elucidating the process behind this coloration phenomenon and quantitatively mapping the created color, resulting in angle-dependent color-changing reflected images that are observable over a sizeable spatial angle range.
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