A new imaging technology has achieved full-colour printing that produces pictures at a nano scale at the very limits of optical diffraction of visible light.
Developed at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore, this technology creates pixels by using metal nanoscale pillars just tens of nanometers tall. Each is capped with silver and gold disks. Colour is established by adjusting the spacing and diameters of these structures, in essence manipulating what colour of light they reflect.
This level of imaging produces and equivalent 100,000 dots per inch where as traditional inkjet or toner technologies struggle to hit even 10,000 dpi. The resolution produced using the new process would be indiscernible to the human eye.
According to its authors, in addition to ultra-high resolution printing (and its related use for security printing), this research also has potential impact in optical data storage and the creation of colour filters in lighting and imaging technologies.
The study is documented in scientific journal Nature Nanotechnology.
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