Issue 9, 2012

Light trapping structures in wing scales of butterfly Trogonoptera brookiana

Abstract

The fine optical structures in wing scales of Trogonoptera brookiana, a tropical butterfly exhibiting efficient light trapping effect, were carefully examined and the reflectivity was measured using reflectance spectrometry. The optimized 3D configuration of the coupling structure was determined using SEM and TEM data, and the light trapping mechanism of butterfly scales was studied. It is found that the front and back sides of butterfly wings possess different light trapping structures, but both can significantly increase the optical path and thus result in almost total absorption of all incident light. An optical model was created to check the properties of this light trapping structure. The simulated reflectance spectra are in concordance with the experimental ones. The results reliably confirm that these structures induce efficient light trapping effect. This functional “biomimetic structure” would have a potential value in wide engineering and optical applications.

Graphical abstract: Light trapping structures in wing scales of butterfly Trogonoptera brookiana

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Dec 2011
Accepted
10 Feb 2012
First published
14 Feb 2012

Nanoscale, 2012,4, 2879-2883

Light trapping structures in wing scales of butterfly Trogonoptera brookiana

Z. Han, S. Niu, C. Shang, Z. Liu and L. Ren, Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 2879 DOI: 10.1039/C2NR12059C

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