Novel optical thin film color filter: Simulation and experiment

This paper proposes a non-absorption inorganic thin film color filter with superior color saturation characteristics. To produce red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters, SiO2 was prepared in three different thicknesses and sandwiched between two silver (Ag) reflective layers. Simulation results demonstrated the superior transmittance and color saturation of Ag film over those of aluminum film. The degree to which the magnitude of the refractive index of SiO2 influences the transmittance of the R, G, and B color filters is not significant; however, the peak wavelength of the red filter shifts approximately 20 nm. The ideal thick- nesses of Ag/SiO2/Ag for color saturation and transmittance in R, G, and B color filters are 30 nm/170 nm/30 nm, 30 nm/131 nm/30 nm, and 30 nm/100 nm/30 nm, respectively. The proposed inorganic thin film color filter provides better color saturation and optical transmittance than organic photoresistance coating color filters.