Giving paper and polymer photochromic properties under laser irradiation is challenging due to the low resistance of these materials to heat, their flexibility, and their possibly irregular structure. However, we could successfully deposit TiO2/Ag/TiO2 layers stacking on flexible white glossy paper and transparent polyethylene terephalate (PET) substrates using a reactive magnetron sputtering technique, and tailor coloration changes after laser irradiation, alternating visible and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. The sample colors are characterized by a panel of chromas depending on the irradiation conditions. We demonstrate that these chroma changes are due to morphological changes of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) after visible laser irradiation of the colored as-deposited sample. The process exhibits a good reversibility after subsequent UV irradiation due to the growth of new metallic Ag NPs. The colors displayed in diffuse reflection by the paper samples are more saturated than the ones displayed in regular transmission by PET samples. We demonstrate the efficiency of the photochromic process on such support by printing high resolution patterns exhibiting different colors depending on the observation conditions.
Keywords: PET; Reactive magnetron sputtering; color printing; multicolor photochromism; paper; polyethylene terephalate; silver nanoparticles; thin film.