The Height of Chitinous Ridges Alone Produces the Entire Structural Color Palette. Issue 35 (10th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raut, Hemant Kumar; Ruan, Qifeng; Finet, Cédric; Saranathan, Vinodkumar; Yang, Joel K.W.; Fernandez, Javier G.
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials interfaces. Volume 9:Issue 35(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-10-10
• Subjects: biomimetic -- chitin -- Lepidoptera -- ridges -- structural colors; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.202201419
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-7350

Abstract

Abstract: The colorful wings of butterflies result from the interaction between light and the intricate chitinous nanostructures on butterflies' scales. This study demonstrates that just by reproducing the chitinous ridges present in butterfly scales (i.e., without any other secondary structure), the entire color palette is achieved. This result is achieved using a new methodology based on the controlled reproduction of parts of the biological structure of complex chitinous systems using their native chemistry, enabling the isolation of different features' contributions. Here the contribution of the ridges and their variations as producing and modulating color hue is isolated. The results suggest that complicated butterfly scales may be non‐ideal solutions for producing color when multifunctionality is not considered. Abstract : Bioinspired manufacturing with chitinous polymers enables the controlled reproduction and study of distinct features in biologically occurring chitinous structures. Using this approach, this study demonstrates that chitinous ridges, a ubiquitous structure in butterfly wings assumed to have a primarily mechanical role, can produce any color by changing their height within their natural range.