opalbased
Opalbased is a designation used in materials science and design to describe a family of materials and coatings that derive their color primarily from micro- and nano-scale structure rather than pigments. Drawing inspiration from the natural opal, opalbased systems rely on periodic dielectric arrangements that produce iridescent, angle-dependent colors (structural color).
The term emerged in late 20th and early 21st century discussions of biomimicry and photonic materials. It
Key properties include tunable color that shifts with viewing angle, high brightness, and potential for pigment-free
Fabrication approaches include sol-gel processes with colloidal-sphere templating, self-assembly of nanospheres, and infiltration of voids with
Applications span decorative coatings, security features, optical filters, sensors, and energy devices where color is achieved