Optical devices with asymmetric layer structure

1. An article comprising:

a reflector having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a third surface;

a first selective light modulator layer external to the first surface of the reflector;

a first absorber layer external to the first selective light modulator layer; and

a second selective light modulator layer external to the first absorber layer;

wherein the third surface of the reflector is open,

wherein the article has an asymmetric layer structure, and

wherein the first selective light modulator layer comprises a host material, a defoamer and i) an oxygen inhibition mitigation composition or ii) 3-Ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane, the oxygen inhibition mitigation composition comprising at least one acrylate chosen from epoxy acrylates, polyester acrylates, polyether acrylates and urethane acrylates.

2. The article of claim 1 ,

wherein the first selective light modulator layer is at least one of non-absorbing and absorbing.

3. The article of claim 2 ,

wherein the first selective light modulator layer is non-absorbing, and the second selective light modulator layer is absorbing.

4. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic-containing layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

wherein the reflector layer is external to the first surface of the magnetic-containing layer.

5. The article of claim 4 ,

wherein the first selective light modulator layer is non-absorbing.

6. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a release layer.

7. An optical device comprising the article of claim 1 .

8. A composition comprising the optical device of claim 7 and a liquid medium.

9. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is a flake.

10. The article of claim 1 , wherein the first selective light modulator layer selectively absorbs specific wavelengths of energy.

11. The article of claim 1 , having a lamellar shape.

12. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article exhibits a property chosen from optical interference, light absorption, light reflection, light scattering, and combinations thereof.

13. The article of claim 1 , wherein the first selective light modulator layer and the second selective light modulator layer are self-leveled layers independently having a variation in optical thickness of less than about 5%.

14. An article, comprising:

a transparent layer having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a third surface; and

a first selective light modulating layer external to the first surface of the transparent layer;

wherein the third surface of the transparent layer is open,

wherein the article has an asymmetric layer structure, and

wherein the first selective light modulator layer comprises a host material, a defoamer and i) an oxygen inhibition mitigation composition or ii) 3-Ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane, the oxygen inhibition mitigation composition comprising at least one acrylate chosen from epoxy acrylates, polyester acrylates, polyether acrylates and urethane acrylates.

15. A method for manufacturing an article comprising:

depositing a reflector layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

depositing a first selective light modulator layer external to the first surface of the reflector layer;

depositing a first absorber layer external to the first selective light modulator layer; and

depositing a second light selective light modulator layer external to the first absorber layer;

wherein the article has an asymmetric layer structure, and

wherein the first selective light modulator layer and the second selective light modulator layer are deposited using a liquid coating process chosen from a slot die process, a slot-bead process, a slide bead process, a slot curtain process, a slide curtain process, a tensioned web slot process, a gravure process and a roll coating process.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first selective light modulator layer is at least one of non-absorbing and absorbing.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first selective light modulator layer is non-absorbing.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the reflector layer is deposited on a substrate, the method further comprising depositing a magnetic-containing layer between the substrate and the reflector layer.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first selective light modulator layer is non-absorbing.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first selective light modulator layer and the second selective light modulator layer are self-leveled layers independently having a variation in optical thickness of less than about 5%.