Structure, function, and self-assembly of single network gyroid (I4132) photonic crystals in butterfly wing scales

Complex three-dimensional biophotonic nanostructures produce the vivid structural colors of many butterfly wing scales, but their exact nanoscale organization is uncertain. We used small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) on single scales to characterize the 3D photonic nanostructures of five butterfly species from two families (Papilionidae, Lycaenidae). We identify these chitin and air nanostructures as single network gyroid (I4(1)32) photonic crystals. We describe their optical function from SAXS data and photonic band-gap modeling. Butterflies apparently grow these gyroid nanostructures by exploiting the self-organizing physical dynamics of biological lipid-bilayer membranes. These butterfly photonic nanostructures initially develop within scale cells as a core-shell double gyroid (Ia3d), as seen in block-copolymer systems, with a pentacontinuous volume comprised of extracellular space, cell plasma membrane, cellular cytoplasm, smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) membrane, and intra-SER lumen. This double gyroid nanostructure is subsequently transformed into a single gyroid network through the deposition of chitin in the extracellular space and the degeneration of the rest of the cell. The butterflies develop the thermodynamically favored double gyroid precursors as a route to the optically more efficient single gyroid nanostructures. Current approaches to photonic crystal engineering also aim to produce single gyroid motifs. The biologically derived photonic nanostructures characterized here may offer a convenient template for producing optical devices based on biomimicry or direct dielectric infiltration.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2010

Erschienen:

2010

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:107

Enthalten in:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America - 107(2010), 26 vom: 29. Juni, Seite 11676-81

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Saranathan, Vinodkumar [VerfasserIn]
Osuji, Chinedum O [VerfasserIn]
Mochrie, Simon G J [VerfasserIn]
Noh, Heeso [VerfasserIn]
Narayanan, Suresh [VerfasserIn]
Sandy, Alec [VerfasserIn]
Dufresne, Eric R [VerfasserIn]
Prum, Richard O [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Journal Article
Macromolecular Substances
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 11.08.2010

Date Revised 20.10.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1073/pnas.0909616107

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM198817045