In February 2023, Qiu Min's team at Westlake University used femtosecond laser processing technology to achieve "inkless color typing".

By using femtosecond laser to prepare micro and nano structures on the surface of thin films and modulate their absorption spectra, the team has achieved nearly 90% of the standard RGB color system, far exceeding the current mainstream laser coloring technology. The laser printed colors present wide gamut, wide viewing angles, high-throughput, high-resolution and high-durability. Moreover, the noncontact laser coloring can be applied on highly rough surfaces that are challenging for the conventional large-scale nanofabrication techniques such as nanoimprinting. Therefore, our technique provides a competitive candidate for practical applications of structural colors in decoration technologies.

The research results were published in the journal Nature Communications,and it also have been reported by many media such as Science and Technology Daily (front page), Guangming Daily, People's Daily, QQ.com, China News, and Zhejiang TV.