Polarization-encoded color images for information encryption enabled by HfN refractory plasmonic metasurfaces

Polarization control plasmonic nanostructures provide a unique route to manipulate light–matter interactions at the nanoscale and are particularly powerful for information security applications, where polarization-encoded color images can be used for optical encryption and anticounterfeiting. Conventional plasmonic materials such as Au and Ag, however, suffer from poor thermal stability, limiting their integration into robust, CMOS-compatible devices. Here, we present a polarization-encoded color image platform based on refractory HfN plasmonic metasurfaces, which combine gold-like optical properties with exceptional hardness, compositional tunability, and superior high-temperature resilience. Periodically patterned HfN nanoantennas with widths of 200 nm exhibit well-defined localized surface plasmon resonances in the visible spectrum (628 and 564 nm) and can be selectively excited by orthogonal linear polarizations. We designed and realized a polarization-encoded color image in which distinct color channels are revealed under x- and y-polarized illumination, enabling decryption of hidden information. Under unpolarized illumination, the superposition of color channels effectively conceals the message, achieving robust optical encryption. Our results establish HfN plasmonic nanostructures as a key material platform for next-generation nanophotonics, uniquely combining gold-like optical properties with exceptional thermal robustness. Even after high-temperature annealing, HfN retains its plasmonic response, enabling reliable polarization-resolved color image encoding and decryption. This breakthrough paves the way for thermally resilient metasurfaces for secure data encryption, anticounterfeiting, and robust operation in extreme environments.