Structural color from basic principles to emerging applications

Wenhao Wang and colleagues summarized the latest advancements in structural color research in Opto-Electronic Science. Their review explored the fundamental principles and fabrication methods of structural colors for photonic applications, including anti-counterfeiting, displays, sensors, and printing, along with their practical limitations. Recently, structural colors have received growing interest due to their advantages, including physical and chemical robustness, eco-friendliness, tunability, and high-resolution color. With the rapid advancement of nanofabrication and design methodologies, there is a growing need to systematically review recent progress in structural colors and provide future perspectives. This review provides insights into the structural color research and highlights critical challenges to be overcome.