Photonic engineering. Aphrodite's iridescence

Nanoscale millefeuilles produce iridescent bill ornaments in birds

Colors are well studied in bird plumage but not in other integumentary structures. In particular, iridescent colors from structures other than plumage are undescribed in birds. Here, we show that a multilayer of keratin and lipids is sufficient to produce the iridescent bill of Spermophaga haematina. Furthermore, that the male bill is presented to the female under different angles during display provides support for the hypothesis that iridescence evolved in response to sexual selection. This is the first report of an iridescent bill, and only the second instance of iridescence in birds in which melanosomes are not involved. Furthermore, an investigation of museum specimens of an additional 98 species, showed that this evolved once, possibly twice. These results are promising, as they suggest that birds utilize a wider array of physical phenomena to produce coloration and should further stimulate research on nonplumage integumentary colors.

Bio-inspired optical structures for enhancing luminescence

Luminescence is an essential signal for many plants, insects, and marine organisms to attract the opposite sex, avoid predators, and so on. Most luminescent living organisms have ingenious optical structures which can help them get high luminescent performances. These remarkable and efficient structures have been formed by natural selection from long-time evolution. Researchers keenly observed the enhanced luminescence phenomena and studied how these phenomena happen in order to learn the characteristics of bio-photonics. In this review, we summarize the optical structures for enhancing luminescence and their applications. The structures are classified according to their different functions. We focus on how researchers use these biological inspirations to enhance different luminescence processes, such as chemiluminescence (CL), photoluminescence (PL), and electroluminescence (EL). It lays a foundation for further research on the applications of luminescence enhancement. Furthermore, we give examples of luminescence enhancement by bio-inspired structures in information encryption, biochemical detection, and light sources. These examples show that it is possible to use bio-inspired optical structures to solve complex problems in optical applications. Our work will provide guidance for research on biomimetic optics, micro- and nano-optical structures, and enhanced luminescence.

Multidimensional dynamic regulation of cellulose coloration for digital recognition and humidity response

Structural color is an eye-catching phenomenon in nature, which originates from the synergistic effect of cholesteric structure inside living organisms and light. However, biomimetic design and green construction of dynamically tunable structural color materials have been a great challenge in the field of photonic manufacturing. In this work, the new ability of L-lactic acid (LLA) to multi-dimensionally modulate the cholesteric structures constructed from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) is revealed for the first time. By studying the molecular-scale hydrogen bonding mechanism, a novel strategy that electrostatic repulsion and hydrogen bonding forces jointly drive the uniform arrangement of cholesteric structures is proposed. Due to the flexible tunability and uniform alignment of the CNC cholesteric structure, different encoded messages were developed in the CNC/LLA (CL) pattern. Under different viewing conditions, the recognition information of different digits will continue to reversibly and rapidly switch until the cholesteric structure is destroyed. In addition, the LLA molecules facilitated the more sensitive response of the CL film to the humidity environment, making it exhibit reversible and tunable structural colors under different humidity. These excellent properties provide more possibilities for the application of CL materials in the fields of multi-dimensional display, anti-counterfeiting encryption, and environmental monitoring.

Wide-gamut structural colours on oakblue butterflies by naturally tuned photonic nanoarchitectures

The iridescent structural colours of butterflies, generated by photonic nanoarchitectures, often function as species-specific sexual signals; therefore, they are reproduced precisely from generation to generation. The wing scales of oakblue hairstreak butterflies (genus Arhopala, Theclinae, Lycaenidae, Lepidoptera) contain multi-layer photonic nanoarchitectures, which can generate a wide range of structural colours, from violet to green. By scanning (SEM) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation, the colour tuning mechanism of the cover scales was explored. We revealed that the characteristic size change of structural elements in similar photonic nanoarchitectures led to different structural colours that were examined by various reflectance spectrophotometry techniques. The measured structural properties of the naturally tuned photonic nanoarchitectures were used to calculate wing reflectances, which were compared with the measurement results. We found that the simulated structural colours were systematically redshifted by 95-126 nm as compared with the measured normal-incidence reflectance results. This is attributed to the swelling of the chitinous multi-layer structures during the standard TEM sample preparation and the tilt of the cover scales, which both affect the apparent layer thicknesses in the TEM cross-sections. We proposed a simulation correction and compared the results with the layer thicknesses measured on cryogenically prepared non-embedded SEM cross-sections.

Deconstructing the crustacean squat lobster genus

Unravelling the evolutionary history of taxa requires solid delimitation of the traits characterising these. This can be challenging especially in groups with a highly complex taxonomy. The squat lobster family Munididae contains more than 450 species distributed among 21 genera, Munida being the most speciose (~300 species). Previous phylogenetic studies, based on a small part of the diversity of the group, have suggested polyphyletic origins for Munida and the paraphyly of Munididae. Here, we use an integrative approach based on multi-locus phylogenies (two mitochondrial and three nuclear markers) paired with 120 morphological characters, to resolve taxonomic and evolutionary relationships within Munididae. Our study covers ~60% of the family’s known diversity (over 800 specimens of 291 species belonging to 19 of the 21 genera collected from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans). Using this information, we confirm the validity of most genera, proposing new ones in cases where the genetic analyses are compatible with morphological characters. Four well-defined munidid clades were recovered, suggesting that new genera should be erected in the currently recognised Munididae (three for the genus Agononida and eleven in Munida), and the genus Grimothea is resurrected. A key to all genera of the family is presented. Molecular clock estimates and ancestral biogeographic area reconstructions complement the taxonomic profiles and suggest some explosive diversification within Munididae during the Cretaceous and the Palaeogene. Further anagenetic events and narrow sympatry accounting for changes in distribution indicate a more limited dispersal capacity than previously considered. Our study unravels how diversification may occur in deep waters and further highlights the importance of the integrative approach in accurately delineating species in understanding the history of a family and the factors driving the evolution. ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:16A61C4A-8D96-4372-820F-8EBDF179B43C

Color-Tuning Mechanism of Electrically Stretchable Photonic Organogels

In contrast to nano-processed rigid photonic crystals with fixed structures, soft photonic organic hydrogel beads with dielectric nanostructures possess advanced capabilities, such as stimuli-responsive deformation and photonic wavelength color changes. Recenlty, advanced from well-investigated mechanochromic method, an electromechanical stress approach is used to demonstrate electrically induced mechanical color shifts in soft organic photonic hydrogel beads. To better understand the electrically stretchable color change functionality in such soft organic photonic hydrogel systems, the electromechanical wavelength-tuning mechanism is comprehensively investigated in this study. By employing controllable electroactive dielectric elastomeric actuators, the discoloration wavelength-tuning process of an electrically stretchable photonic organogel is carefully examined. Based on the experimental in-situ response of electrically stretchable nano-spherical polystyrene hydrogel beads, the color change mechanism is meticulously analyzed. Further, changes in the nanostructure of the symmetrically and electrically stretchable organogel are analytically investigated through simulations of its hexagonal close-packed (HCP) lattice model. Detailed photonic wavelength control factors, such as the refractive index of dielectric materials, lattice diffraction, and bead distance in an organogel lattice, are theoretically studied. Herein, the switcing mechanism of electrically stretchable mechanochromic photonic organogels with photonic stopband-tuning features are suggested for the first time.

3D Modelling for Photonic Crystal Structure in Papilio maackii Wing Scales

As a typical representative of natural structural colors, the wings of butterflies living in different zones present colors due to different chromogenic mechanisms. In this work, Papilio maackii, a common species of butterfly living in China, was studied in order to clarify the photophysics of its wing scales. A FESEM was applied to observe the microstructure of the scales, and we found that they have a periodic photonic crystal structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was applied to clarify the wings’ chemical composition. Additionally, the optical properties of the scales were investigated using a UV-vis-NIR microspectrophotometer. Then, a simplified three-dimensional photonic crystal model was built according to the microstructure of the wing scales, and the plane-wave expansion method was used to calculate the band gap. The correlation between the calculated band gap and the practical reflective spectrum was also established for the wing scales of Papilio maackii.

Bio-inspired structural colors and their applications

Structural colors, generated by the interaction of interference, diffraction, and scattering between incident light and periodic nanostructured surfaces with features of the same scale with incident visible light wavelengths, have recently attracted intense interest in a wide range of research fields, due to their advantages such as various brilliant colors, long-term stability and environmental friendliness, low energy consumption, and mysterious biological functions. Tremendous effort has been made to design structural colors and considerable progress has been achieved in the past few decades. However, there are still significant challenges and obstacles, such as durability, portability, compatibility, recyclability, mass production of structural-color materials, etc., that need to be solved by rational structural design and novel manufacturing strategies. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of bio-inspired structural colors and their applications. First, we introduce several typical natural structural colors displayed by living organisms from fundamental optical phenomena, including interference, diffraction grating, scattering, photonic crystals effects, the combination of different phenomena, etc. Subsequently, we review recent progress in bio-inspired artificial structural colors generated from advanced micro/nanoscale manufacturing strategies to relevant biomimetic approaches, including self-assembly, template methods, phase conversion, magnetron sputtering, atomic layer deposition, etc. Besides, we also present the current and potential applications of structural colors in various fields, such as displays, anti-counterfeiting, wearable electronics, stealth, printing, etc. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future development directions of structural colors, aiming to push forward the research and applications of structural-color materials.

Hierarchical Colorful Structures by Three-Dimensional Printing of Inverse Opals

Structural coloration is a recurring solution in biological systems to control visible light. In nature, basic structural coloration results from light interacting with a repetitive nanopattern, but more complex interactions and striking results are achieved by organisms incorporating additional hierarchical structures. Artificial reproduction of single-level structural color has been achieved using repetitive nanostructures, with flat sheets of inverse opals being very popular because of their simple and reliable fabrication process. Here, we control photonic structures at several length scales using a combination of direct laser writing and nanosphere assembly, producing freeform hierarchical constructions of inverse opals with high-intensity structural coloration. We report the first 3D prints of stacked, overhanging and slanted microstructures of inverse opals. Among other characteristics, these hierarchical photonic structures exhibit geometrically tunable colors, focal-plane-dependent patterns, and arbitrary alignment of microstructure facet with self-assembled lattice. Based on those results, novel concepts of multilevel information encoding systems are presented.

Structural Color Control of CoFeB-Coated Nanoporous Thin Films

Unlike color dyes, structural colors only slightly fade during long-term usage. Here, structural colors were controllably achieved by constructing CoFeB photonic crystal layers on the surface of a nanoporous aluminum oxide (AAO) substrate by magnetron sputtering deposition. The resulting material showed a wide visible spectral response and achieved structural color control with a high resolution, high color purity, and saturation. The angle-dependent color changes of CoFeB@AAO films were further investigated by changing the incident light angle. The simulation results of the model are consistent with the experiments, which is significant in practical applications. This strategy may have great potential applications for solid structure color coatings, anti-counterfeiting and security, information storage, and electromagnetic sensors.

Bioinspired, Nanostructure-Amplified, Subcutaneous Light Harvesting to Power Implantable Biomedical Electronics

Implantable biomedical electronics hold immense promise for in vivo personalized healthy monitoring and even precise therapeutic intervention. Tremendous miniaturization of indwelling modules enables implanted biomedical devices to perform multiple functions with ultralow power consumption but exacerbates the technical challenges of supplying effective power to the devices in vivo. In this Perspective, we summarize new developments in transmitting near-infrared light from sunlight or a light-emitting diode into subcutaneously implanted photovoltaic cells, in which the light utilization efficiency can be amplified with the aid of nanostructured rear reflectors. Considering the many natural examples of nanostructure-induced structural coloration displayed by submarine animals, we wish to open up new prospects of bioinspired, nanostructure-amplified, subcutaneous light harvesting to power implanted biomedical electronics.

Bioinspired Multiple Stimuli-Responsive Optical Microcapsules Enabled by Microfluidics

Optical microcapsules encapsulating optical materials inside a symmetric spherical confinement are significant elements for the construction of optical units and the integration of optical arrays. However, the multiple stimuli-responsive characteristic of optical microcapsules still remains a challenge due to the insuperable physical barrier between the optical material core and the outside shell and the lack of effective mechanisms to trigger the dynamic switch of the encapsulated optical materials. Inspired by the dual-mode optical modulation of chameleon skins, a novel biomimetic binary optical microcapsule that combines the visible light reflection of chiral nematic liquid crystals and photoluminescence emission of rare-earth complexes is assembled by microfluidic emulsification and interfacial polymerization. The reflected color, fluorescent intensity, and size of the optical microcapsules are facilely controlled in the microfluidic chip by adjusting the composition and flow rate of the injected fluids. Most importantly, the biomimetic binary optical microcapsules demonstrate three reversible responsive behaviors, thermotropic reflection evolution, temperature-dependent fluorescence emission, and Fredericks electro-optical response. The bioinspired multiple stimuli-responsive optical microcapsules enabled by microfluidics provide a templated strategy to manufacture the next generation of intelligent optical units and to achieve the dynamic response of hybrid photonic devices.

Evolutionary algorithms converge towards evolved biological photonic structures

Nature features a plethora of extraordinary photonic architectures that have been optimized through natural evolution in order to more efficiently reflect, absorb or scatter light. While numerical optimization is increasingly and successfully used in photonics, it has yet to replicate any of these complex naturally occurring structures. Using evolutionary algorithms inspired by natural evolution and performing particular optimizations (maximize reflection for a given wavelength, for a broad range of wavelength or maximize the scattering of light), we have retrieved the most stereotypical natural photonic structures. Whether those structures are Bragg mirrors, chirped dielectric mirrors or the gratings on top of Morpho butterfly wings, our results indicate how such regular structures might have spontaneously emerged in nature and to which precise optical or fabrication constraints they respond. Comparing algorithms show that recombination between individuals, inspired by sexual reproduction, confers a clear advantage that can be linked to the fact that photonic structures are fundamentally modular: each part of the structure has a role which can be understood almost independently from the rest. Such an in silico evolution also suggests original and elegant solutions to practical problems, as illustrated by the design of counter-intuitive anti-reflective coatings for solar cells.

Self-assembled colloidal arrays for structural color

Structural color materials that are colloidally assembled as inspired by nature are attracting increased interest in a wide range of research fields. The assembly of colloidal particles provides a facile and cost-effective strategy for fabricating three-dimensional structural color materials. In this review, the generation mechanisms of structural colors from colloidally assembled photonic crystalline structures (PCSs) and photonic amorphous structures (PASs) are first presented, followed by the state-of-the-art and detailed technologies for their fabrication. The variable optical properties of PASs and PCSs are then discussed, focusing on their spatial long- and short-order structures and surface topography, followed by a detailed description of the modulation of structural color by refractive index and lattice distance. Finally, the current applications of structural color materials colloidally assembled in various fields including biomaterials, microfluidic chips, sensors, displays, and anticounterfeiting are reviewed, together with future applications and tasks to be accomplished.

Functional protein materials: beyond elastomeric and structural proteins

In the past two decades researchers have shown great interest in mimicking biological structures and their complex structure–property relationships. Herein we highlight examples of hydrogels and bioelectronic materials that illustrate the rational design of material properties and function.

Biomimetic Structural Color Films with a Bilayer Inverse Heterostructure for Anticounterfeiting Applications

The unique brilliant and angle-independent structural colors of morpho butterfly wings were derived from the multilayer interference, diffraction, and scattering of light with a composite structure including ordered and quasiamorphous arrays. Inspired by the biological heterostructure of ordered and quasiamorphous arrays in the wings, a bilayer inverse heterostructure (BLIHS) containing ordered array layers inverse structure (OALIS) and quasiamorphous array layers inverse structure (Q-AALIS) of polyvinylidene fluoride were successfully prepared through the template method. The BLIHS films selectively displayed iridescent structural color derived from Bragg diffraction of OALIS, whereas the color states transform to noniridescent color because of Q-AALIS just by rotating the sample. Furthermore, the patterning process could be realized by using the spray-coating method on the BILIS films as quasiamorphous array layers. By virtue of this novel photonic structure, the switch between hiding and displaying patterns could be easily realized by changing the viewing angles, and the as-prepared films exhibited inherent excellent durability, which is crucial to their potential for practical applications as anticounterfeiting materials.

Self-assembling structural colour in nature

The diversity and vividness of structural colour in the natural world have been recognised as far back as William Hooke in the 17th century. Whilst it is only recently that advances in the field have revealed the elegance and finesse of the physics used to create these effects. In this topical review we will highlight some of the structures and effects responsible for colour in butterfly scales, bird feathers, plants, insects and beetle elytra that have been studied to date. We will discuss the structures responsible and look at similarities and differences in these structures between species. This will be alongside our current understanding of how these are created biologically, how they develop structurally and what control mechanisms nature has at its disposal to control structure formation.

Fabrication of Optical Switching Patterns with Structural Colored Microfibers

Structural color was generated using electrospinning and hydrothermal growth of zinc oxide (ZnO). An aligned seed layer was prepared by electrospinning, and the hydrothermal growth time control was adjusted to generate various structural colors. The structural color changed according to the angle of the incident light. When the light was parallel to the direction of the aligned nanofibers, no pattern was observed. This pattern is referred to as an "optical switching pattern." Replication using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) also enabled the generation of structural colors; this is an attractive approach for mass production. Additionally, the process is quite tunable because additional syntheses and etching can be performed after the patterns have been fabricated.

Photonic crystal micro-pixelation and additive color mixing in weevil scales

The origin of the brilliant near angle-independent coloration of the weevil Eupholus chevrolati was investigated by a combination of optical and electron microscopy tools, photonic band structure calculations, and color mixing analysis. Optical microscopy and scanning micro-spectroscopy revealed the presence of micrometer-sized red, yellow, green, and blue reflective pixels covering the entire exoskeleton of the weevil. Scanning electron microscopy in combination with focused ion beam milling showed that each micro-pixel consisted of a diamond-based photonic crystal structure and the different reflective colors were the result of different orientations of the photonic crystal. Color mixing analysis was used to study the collective behavior of the reflective micro-pixels. A pointillist, additive color-mixing scheme of the reflective photonic crystal micro-pixels was determined as the origin of the weevil's bright and near angle-independent yellow-green coloration.

Animal coloration research: why it matters

While basic research on animal coloration is the theme of this special edition, here we highlight its applied significance for industry, innovation and society. Both the nanophotonic structures producing stunning optical effects and the colour perception mechanisms in animals are extremely diverse, having been honed over millions of years of evolution for many different purposes. Consequently, there is a wealth of opportunity for biomimetic and bioinspired applications of animal coloration research, spanning colour production, perception and function. Fundamental research on the production and perception of animal coloration is contributing to breakthroughs in the design of new materials (cosmetics, textiles, paints, optical coatings, security labels) and new technologies (cameras, sensors, optical devices, robots, biomedical implants). In addition, discoveries about the function of animal colour are influencing sport, fashion, the military and conservation. Understanding and applying knowledge of animal coloration is now a multidisciplinary exercise. Our goal here is to provide a catalyst for new ideas and collaborations between biologists studying animal coloration and researchers in other disciplines.This article is part of the themed issue 'Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application'.

Covert linear polarization signatures from brilliant white two-dimensional disordered wing structures of the phoenix damselfly

The damselfly Pseudolestes mirabilis reflects brilliant white on the ventral side of its hindwings and a copper-gold colour on the dorsal side. Unlike many previous investigations of odonate wings, in which colour appearances arise either from multilayer interference or from wing-membrane pigmentation, the whiteness on the wings of P. mirabilis results from light scattered by a specialized arrangement of flattened waxy fibres and the copper-gold colour is produced by pigment-based filtering of this light scatter. The waxy fibres responsible for this optical signature effectively form a structure that is disordered in two dimensions and this also gives rise to distinct optical linear polarization. It is a structure that provides a mechanism enabling P. mirabilis to display its bright wing colours efficiently for territorial signalling, both passively while perched, in which the sunlit copper-gold upperside is presented against a highly contrasting background of foliage, and actively in territorial contests in which the white underside is also presented. It also offers a template for biomimetic high-intensity broadband reflectors that have a pronounced polarization signature.

Progress and Opportunities in Soft Photonics and Biologically Inspired Optics

Optical components made fully or partially from reconfigurable, stimuli-responsive, soft solids or fluids-collectively referred to as soft photonics-are poised to form the platform for tunable optical devices with unprecedented functionality and performance characteristics. Currently, however, soft solid and fluid material systems still represent an underutilized class of materials in the optical engineers' toolbox. This is in part due to challenges in fabrication, integration, and structural control on the nano- and microscale associated with the application of soft components in optics. These challenges might be addressed with the help of a resourceful ally: nature. Organisms from many different phyla have evolved an impressive arsenal of light manipulation strategies that rely on the ability to generate and dynamically reconfigure hierarchically structured, complex optical material designs, often involving soft or fluid components. A comprehensive understanding of design concepts, structure formation principles, material integration, and control mechanisms employed in biological photonic systems will allow this study to challenge current paradigms in optical technology. This review provides an overview of recent developments in the fields of soft photonics and biologically inspired optics, emphasizes the ties between the two fields, and outlines future opportunities that result from advancements in soft and bioinspired photonics.

Bio-inspired imager improves sensitivity in near-infrared fluorescence image-guided surgery

Image-guided surgery can enhance cancer treatment by decreasing, and ideally eliminating, positive tumor margins and iatrogenic damage to healthy tissue. Current state-of-the-art near-infrared fluorescence imaging systems are bulky and costly, lack sensitivity under surgical illumination, and lack co-registration accuracy between multimodal images. As a result, an overwhelming majority of physicians still rely on their unaided eyes and palpation as the primary sensing modalities for distinguishing cancerous from healthy tissue. Here we introduce an innovative design, comprising an artificial multispectral sensor inspired by the Morpho butterfly's compound eye, which can significantly improve image-guided surgery. By monolithically integrating spectral tapetal filters with photodetectors, we have realized a single-chip multispectral imager with 1000 × higher sensitivity and 7 × better spatial co-registration accuracy compared to clinical imaging systems in current use. Preclinical and clinical data demonstrate that this technology seamlessly integrates into the surgical workflow while providing surgeons with real-time information on the location of cancerous tissue and sentinel lymph nodes. Due to its low manufacturing cost, our bio-inspired sensor will provide resource-limited hospitals with much-needed technology to enable more accurate value-based health care.

The highly efficient photocatalytic and light harvesting property of Ag-TiO2 with negative nano-holes structure inspired from cicada wings

The negative replica of biomorphic TiO₂ with nano-holes structure has been effectively fabricated directly from nano-nipple arrays structure of cicada wings by using a simple, low-cost and highly effective sol-gel ultrasonic method. The nano-holes array structure was well maintained after calcination in air at 500 °C. The Ag nanoparticles (10 nm–25 nm) were homogeneously decorated on the surface and to the side wall of nano-holes structure. It was observed that the biomorphic Ag-TiO₂ showed remarkable photocatalytic activity by degradation of methyl blue (MB) under UV-vis light irradiation. The biomorphic Ag-TiO₂ with nano-holes structure showed superior photocatalytic activity compared to the biomorphic TiO₂ and commercial Degussa P25. This high-performance photocatalytic activity of the biomorphic Ag-TiO₂ may be attributed to the nano-holes structure, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) property of the Ag nanoparticles, and enhanced electron-hole separation. Moreover, the biomorphic Ag-TiO₂ showed more absorption capability in the visible wavelength range. This work provides a new insight to design such a structure which may lead to a range of novel applications.

Structural Evolution and Formation Mechanism of the Soft Colloidal Arrays in the Core of PAAm Nanofibers by Electrospun Packing

Electrospinning provides a facile and versatile method for generating nanofibers from a large variety of starting materials, including polymers, ceramic, composites, and micro-/nanocolloids. In particular, incorporating functional nanoparticles (NPs) with polymeric materials endows the electrospun fibers/sheets with novel or better performance. This work evaluates the spinnability of polyacrylamide (PAAm) solution containing thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-tert-butyl acrylate) microgel nanospheres (PNTs) prepared by colloid electrospinning. In the presence of a suitable weight ratio (1:4) of PAAm and PNTs, the in-fiber arrangements of PNTs-electrospun fibers will evolve into chain-like arrays and beads-on-string structures by confining of PAAm nanofibers, and then the free amide groups of PAAm can bind amide moieties on the surfaces of PNTs, resulting in the assembling of PNTs in the cores of PAAm fibers. The present work serves as a reference in the fabrication of novel thermoresponsive hybrid fibers involving functional nanospheres via electrospun packing. The prepared nanofibers with chain-like and thermoresponsive colloid arrays in the cores are expected to have potential application in various fields.

Bio-Optics and Bio-Inspired Optical Materials

Through the use of the limited materials palette, optimally designed micro- and nanostructures, and tightly regulated processes, nature demonstrates exquisite control of light-matter interactions at various length scales. In fact, control of light-matter interactions is an important element in the evolutionary arms race and has led to highly engineered optical materials and systems. In this review, we present a detailed summary of various optical effects found in nature with a particular emphasis on the materials and optical design aspects responsible for their optical functionality. Using several representative examples, we discuss various optical phenomena, including absorption and transparency, diffraction, interference, reflection and antireflection, scattering, light harvesting, wave guiding and lensing, camouflage, and bioluminescence, that are responsible for the unique optical properties of materials and structures found in nature and biology. Great strides in understanding the design principles adapted by nature have led to a tremendous progress in realizing biomimetic and bioinspired optical materials and photonic devices. We discuss the various micro- and nanofabrication techniques that have been employed for realizing advanced biomimetic optical structures.

Local self-uniformity in photonic networks

The interaction of a material with light is intimately related to its wavelength-scale structure. Simple connections between structure and optical response empower us with essential intuition to engineer complex optical functionalities. Here we develop local self-uniformity (LSU) as a measure of a random network's internal structural similarity, ranking networks on a continuous scale from crystalline, through glassy intermediate states, to chaotic configurations. We demonstrate that complete photonic bandgap structures possess substantial LSU and validate LSU's importance in gap formation through design of amorphous gyroid structures. Amorphous gyroid samples are fabricated via three-dimensional ceramic printing and the bandgaps experimentally verified. We explore also the wing-scale structuring in the butterfly Pseudolycaena marsyas and show that it possesses substantial amorphous gyroid character, demonstrating the subtle order achieved by evolutionary optimization and the possibility of an amorphous gyroid's self-assembly.

New insights and perspectives into biological materials for flexible electronics

Materials based on biological materials are becoming increasingly competitive and are likely to be critical components in flexible electronic devices.

Sub-micron silk fibroin film with high humidity sensibility through color changing

A Sub-micron silk fibroin film with high humidity sensibility through color changing is achieved by spin-coating fibroin aqueous solution, and it can be potentially applied for low-cost and fast humidity detection, as well as anti-counterfeit labels.

Bio-templated fabrication of metal-free boron carbonitride tubes for visible light photocatalysis

A novel and facile biotemplating method has been presented to synthesize boron carbon nitride tubes (BCNTs) by using the low-cost kapok fibers (KFs). This pathway not only transplanted the structure of KFs into the h-BN lattice, but also introduced C simultaneously in a self-doping manner. The BCNT photocatalysts can catalyse hydrogen evolution from water under visible light illumination.

High-frequency homogenization for travelling waves in periodic media

We consider high-frequency homogenization in periodic media for travelling waves of several different equations: the wave equation for scalar-valued waves such as acoustics; the wave equation for vector-valued waves such as electromagnetism and elasticity; and a system that encompasses the Schrödinger equation. This homogenization applies when the wavelength is of the order of the size of the medium periodicity cell. The travelling wave is assumed to be the sum of two waves: a modulated Bloch carrier wave having crystal wavevector [Formula: see text] and frequency ω1 plus a modulated Bloch carrier wave having crystal wavevector [Formula: see text] and frequency ω2. We derive effective equations for the modulating functions, and then prove that there is no coupling in the effective equations between the two different waves both in the scalar and the system cases. To be precise, we prove that there is no coupling unless ω1=ω2 and [Formula: see text] where Λ=(λ1λ2…λ d ) is the periodicity cell of the medium and for any two vectors [Formula: see text] the product a⊙b is defined to be the vector (a1b1,a2b2,…,adbd ). This last condition forces the carrier waves to be equivalent Bloch waves meaning that the coupling constants in the system of effective equations vanish. We use two-scale analysis and some new weak-convergence type lemmas. The analysis is not at the same level of rigour as that of Allaire and co-workers who use two-scale convergence theory to treat the problem, but has the advantage of simplicity which will allow it to be easily extended to the case where there is degeneracy of the Bloch eigenvalue.

Bio-Inspired Functional Surfaces Based on Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures

Nature developed numerous solutions to solve various technical problems related to material surfaces by combining the physico-chemical properties of a material with periodically aligned micro/nanostructures in a sophisticated manner. The utilization of ultra-short pulsed lasers allows mimicking numerous of these features by generating laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). In this review paper, we describe the physical background of LIPSS generation as well as the physical principles of surface related phenomena like wettability, reflectivity, and friction. Then we introduce several biological examples including e.g., lotus leafs, springtails, dessert beetles, moth eyes, butterfly wings, weevils, sharks, pangolins, and snakes to illustrate how nature solves technical problems, and we give a comprehensive overview of recent achievements related to the utilization of LIPSS to generate superhydrophobic, anti-reflective, colored, and drag resistant surfaces. Finally, we conclude with some future developments and perspectives related to forthcoming applications of LIPSS-based surfaces.

Domain morphology, boundaries, and topological defects in biophotonic gyroid nanostructures of butterfly wing scales

Many organisms in nature have evolved sophisticated cellular mechanisms to produce photonic nanostructures and, in recent years, diverse crystalline symmetries have been identified and related to macroscopic optical properties. However, because we know little about the distributions of domain sizes, the orientations of photonic crystals, and the nature of defects in these structures, we are unable to make the connection between the nanostructure and its development and functionality. We report on nondestructive studies of the morphology of chitinous photonic crystals in butterfly wing scales. Using spatially and angularly resolved x-ray diffraction, we find that the domains are highly oriented with respect to the whole scale, indicating growth from scale boundaries. X-ray coherent diffractive imaging reveals two types of crystalline domain interfaces: abrupt changes between domains emerging from distinct nucleation sites and smooth transitions with edge dislocations presumably resulting from internal stresses during nanostructure development. Our study of the scale structure reveals new aspects of photonic crystal growth in butterfly wings and shows their similarity to block copolymer materials. It opens new avenues to exploration of fundamental processes underlying the growth of biological photonic nanostructures in a variety of species.

Soft Surfaces for the Reversible Control of Thin-Film Microstructure and Optical Reflectance

A micromechano-optical material is rapidly and reversibly switched between distinct states of reflectance by simply stretching and relaxing the hybrid structure. The material is fabricated and controlled by leveraging the ability of soft elastic substrates to regulate the growth and morphological evolution of a chemically deposited polycrystalline thin film.

Spatially modulated structural colour in bird feathers

Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) feathers display periodic variations in the reflected colour from white through light blue, dark blue and black. We find the structures responsible for the colour are continuous in their size and spatially controlled by the degree of spinodal phase separation in the corresponding region of the feather barb. Blue structures have a well-defined broadband ultra-violet (UV) to blue wavelength distribution; the corresponding nanostructure has characteristic spinodal morphology with a lengthscale of order 150 nm. White regions have a larger 200 nm nanostructure, consistent with a spinodal process that has coarsened further, yielding broader wavelength white reflectance. Our analysis shows that nanostructure in single bird feather barbs can be varied continuously by controlling the time the keratin network is allowed to phase separate before mobility in the system is arrested. Dynamic scaling analysis of the single barb scattering data implies that the phase separation arrest mechanism is rapid and also distinct from the spinodal phase separation mechanism i.e. it is not gelation or intermolecular re-association. Any growing lengthscale using this spinodal phase separation approach must first traverse the UV and blue wavelength regions, growing the structure by coarsening, resulting in a broad distribution of domain sizes.

Nanofabrication and coloration study of artificial Morpho butterfly wings with aligned lamellae layers

The bright and iridescent blue color from Morpho butterfly wings has attracted worldwide attentions to explore its mysterious nature for long time. Although the physics of structural color by the nanophotonic structures built on the wing scales has been well established, replications of the wing structure by standard top-down lithography still remains a challenge. This paper reports a technical breakthrough to mimic the blue color of Morpho butterfly wings, by developing a novel nanofabrication process, based on electron beam lithography combined with alternate PMMA/LOR development/dissolution, for photonic structures with aligned lamellae multilayers in colorless polymers. The relationship between the coloration and geometric dimensions as well as shapes is systematically analyzed by solving Maxwell’s Equations with a finite domain time difference simulator. Careful characterization of the mimicked blue by spectral measurements under both normal and oblique angles are carried out. Structural color in blue reflected by the fabricated wing scales, is demonstrated and further extended to green as an application exercise of the new technique. The effects of the regularity in the replicas on coloration are analyzed. In principle, this approach establishes a starting point for mimicking structural colors beyond the blue in Morpho butterfly wings.

Disordered animal multilayer reflectors and the localization of light

Multilayer optical reflectors constructed from 'stacks' of alternating layers of high and low refractive index dielectric materials are present in many animals. For example, stacks of guanine crystals with cytoplasm gaps occur within the skin and scales of fish, and stacks of protein platelets with cytoplasm gaps occur within the iridophores of cephalopods. Common to all these animal multilayer reflectors are different degrees of random variation in the thicknesses of the individual layers in the stack, ranging from highly periodic structures to strongly disordered systems. However, previous discussions of the optical effects of such thickness disorder have been made without quantitative reference to the propagation of light within the reflector. Here, we demonstrate that Anderson localization provides a general theoretical framework to explain the common coherent interference and optical properties of these biological reflectors. Firstly, we illustrate how the localization length enables the spectral properties of the reflections from more weakly disordered 'coloured' and more strongly disordered 'silvery' reflectors to be explained by the same physical process. Secondly, we show how the polarization properties of reflection can be controlled within guanine-cytoplasm reflectors, with an interplay of birefringence and thickness disorder explaining the origin of broadband polarization-insensitive reflectivity.

Highly Sensitive Mechanochromic Photonic Hydrogels with Fast Reversibility and Mechanical Stability

We present a fast and efficient strategy for the preparation of photonic hydrogels for compression and organic solvent sensing by the self-assembly of monodisperse carbon-encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs). The hydrogel film was composed of acrylamide (AM) and cross-linker N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS), and the formed 1D NPs chain structure can be fixed within the hydrogels under a magnetic field by in situ photopolymerization. The resulting photonic hydrogels display vivid structural color which can be tuned by pressing and organic solvent treatment. The 0.2 kPa compression applied to the photonic hydrogels can be detected by the 37 nm blue shift of a reflection peak. Importantly, the photonic hydrogels can recover to their original state (<1 s) after being compressed on a pattern. Moreover, the sensitivity of mechanochromic photonic hydrogels can be adjusted by manipulating the concentration of monomers, and a large reflection peak shift (4.3 kPa, 200 nm) was observed. The detection range of the compression sensor can thus increase from 0-4.3 to 0-130.6 kPa. The photonic hydrogels are nearly monochromatic, with high sensitivity and stability and fast reversibility, and are potentially useful in displays, diagnostics, compression and solvent sensing.

Structural Coloration of Colloidal Fiber by Photonic Band Gap and Resonant Mie Scattering

Because structural color is fadeless and dye-free, structurally colored materials have attracted great attention in a wide variety of research fields. In this work, we report the use of a novel structural coloration strategy applied to the fabrication of colorful colloidal fibers. The nanostructured fibers with tunable structural colors were massively produced by colloidal electrospinning. Experimental results and theoretical modeling reveal that the homogeneous and noniridescent structural colors of the electrospun fibers are caused by two phenomena: reflection due to the band gap of photonic structure and Mie scattering of the colloidal spheres. Our unprecedented findings show promise in paving way for the development of revolutionary dye-free technology for the coloration of various fibers.

A highly conspicuous mineralized composite photonic architecture in the translucent shell of the blue-rayed limpet

Many species rely on diverse selections of entirely organic photonic structures for the manipulation of light and the display of striking colours. Here we report the discovery of a mineralized hierarchical photonic architecture embedded within the translucent shell of the blue-rayed limpet Patella pellucida. The bright colour of the limpet's stripes originates from light interference in a periodically layered zig-zag architecture of crystallographically co-oriented calcite lamellae. Beneath the photonic multilayer, a disordered array of light-absorbing particles provides contrast for the blue colour. This unique mineralized manifestation of a synergy of two distinct optical elements at specific locations within the continuum of the limpet's translucent protective shell ensures the vivid shine of the blue stripes, which can be perceived under water from a wide range of viewing angles. The stripes' reflection band coincides with the spectral range of minimal light absorption in sea water, raising intriguing questions regarding their functional significance.

Bioinspired micrograting arrays mimicking the reverse color diffraction elements evolved by the butterfly Pierella luna

Recently, diffraction elements that reverse the color sequence normally observed in planar diffraction gratings have been found in the wing scales of the butterfly Pierella luna. Here, we describe the creation of an artificial photonic material mimicking this reverse color-order diffraction effect. The bioinspired system consists of ordered arrays of vertically oriented microdiffraction gratings. We present a detailed analysis and modeling of the coupling of diffraction resulting from individual structural components and demonstrate its strong dependence on the orientation of the individual miniature gratings. This photonic material could provide a basis for novel developments in biosensing, anticounterfeiting, and efficient light management in photovoltaic systems and light-emitting diodes.

Unparalleled sensitivity of photonic structures in butterfly wings

The spectra response characteristics of photonic structures to different surrounding vapors in Morpho menelaus butterfly wings was investigated.

Photonic crystal structures with tunable structure color as colorimetric sensors

Colorimetric sensing, which transduces environmental changes into visible color changes, provides a simple yet powerful detection mechanism that is well-suited to the development of low-cost and low-power sensors. A new approach in colorimetric sensing exploits the structural color of photonic crystals (PCs) to create environmentally-influenced color-changeable materials. PCs are composed of periodic dielectrics or metallo-dielectric nanostructures that affect the propagation of electromagnetic waves (EM) by defining the allowed and forbidden photonic bands. Simultaneously, an amazing variety of naturally occurring biological systems exhibit iridescent color due to the presence of PC structures throughout multi-dimensional space. In particular, some kinds of the structural colors in living organisms can be reversibly changed in reaction to external stimuli. Based on the lessons learned from natural photonic structures, some specific examples of PCs-based colorimetric sensors are presented in detail to demonstrate their unprecedented potential in practical applications, such as the detections of temperature, pH, ionic species, solvents, vapor, humidity, pressure and biomolecules. The combination of the nanofabrication technique, useful design methodologies inspired by biological systems and colorimetric sensing will lead to substantial developments in low-cost, miniaturized and widely deployable optical sensors.

Cylindrical Bragg mirrors on leg segments of the male Bolivian blueleg tarantula Pamphobeteus antinous (Theraphosidae)

The large male tarantula Pamphobeteus antinous is easily recognized at the presence of blue-violet iridescent bristles on some of the segments of its legs and pedipalps. The optical properties of these colored appendages have been measured and the internal geometrical structure of the bristles have been investigated. The coloration is shown to be caused by a curved coaxial multilayer which acts as a "cylindrical Bragg mirror".

Fabrication of Structurally-Colored Fibers with Axial Core-Shell Structure via Electrophoretic Deposition and Their Optical Properties

Structurally colored fibers were fabricated using different-sized polystyrene (PS) nanospheres via electrophoretic deposition on conductive carbon fiber surfaces. The reflective spectra corresponding to different colors were taken by microzone and angle-resolved spectrometers from a single colloidal fiber. As confirmed by structural analysis, the outer layer of the core-shell colloidal fibers consisted of face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) domains without long-range order. It is revealed that the absence of long-range order in the colloidal assembly caused isotropic reflection in radial and longitudinal directions on the colloidal fibers. Furthermore, due to the incorporation of random defects during growth process, the experimental spectra are blue-shifted and broad compared to reflective spectra calculations based on the curved f.c.c. structure. This technique is speculated to have potential application in structural coloration and radiation-proof fabrics.