A highly reflective biogenic photonic material from core–shell birefringent nanoparticles

Benjamin A. Palmer; Venkata Jayasurya Yallapragada; Nathan Schiffmann; Eyal Merary Wormser; Nadav Elad; Eliahu D. Aflalo; Amir Sagi; Steve Weiner; Lia Addadi; Dan Oron

doi:10.1038/s41565-019-0609-5

A highly reflective biogenic photonic material from core–shell birefringent nanoparticles

Benjamin A. Palmer, Venkata Jayasurya Yallapragada, Nathan Schiffmann, Eyal Merary Wormser, Nadav Elad, Eliahu D. Aflalo, Amir Sagi, Steve Weiner, Lia Addadi, Dan Oron

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Spectacular natural optical phenomena are produced by highly reflective assemblies of organic crystals. Here we show how the tapetum reflector in a shrimp eye is constructed from arrays of spherical isoxanthopterin nanoparticles and relate the particle properties to their optical function. The nanoparticles are composed of single-crystal isoxanthopterin nanoplates arranged in concentric lamellae around a hollow core. The spherulitic birefringence of the nanoparticles, which originates from the radial alignment of the plates, results in a significant enhancement of the back-scattering. This enables the organism to maximize the reflectivity of the ultrathin tapetum, which functions to increase the eye’s sensitivity and preserve visual acuity. The particle size, core/shell ratio and packing are also controlled to optimize the intensity and spectral properties of the tapetum back-scattering. This system offers inspiration for the design of photonic crystals constructed from spherically symmetric birefringent particles for use in ultrathin reflectors and as non-iridescent pigments.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	138-144
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nature Nanotechnology
Volume	15
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-019-0609-5
State	Published - 1 Feb 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Bioengineering
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Biomedical Engineering
General Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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10.1038/s41565-019-0609-5

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title = "A highly reflective biogenic photonic material from core–shell birefringent nanoparticles",

abstract = "Spectacular natural optical phenomena are produced by highly reflective assemblies of organic crystals. Here we show how the tapetum reflector in a shrimp eye is constructed from arrays of spherical isoxanthopterin nanoparticles and relate the particle properties to their optical function. The nanoparticles are composed of single-crystal isoxanthopterin nanoplates arranged in concentric lamellae around a hollow core. The spherulitic birefringence of the nanoparticles, which originates from the radial alignment of the plates, results in a significant enhancement of the back-scattering. This enables the organism to maximize the reflectivity of the ultrathin tapetum, which functions to increase the eye{\textquoteright}s sensitivity and preserve visual acuity. The particle size, core/shell ratio and packing are also controlled to optimize the intensity and spectral properties of the tapetum back-scattering. This system offers inspiration for the design of photonic crystals constructed from spherically symmetric birefringent particles for use in ultrathin reflectors and as non-iridescent pigments.",

author = "Palmer, \{Benjamin A.\} and Yallapragada, \{Venkata Jayasurya\} and Nathan Schiffmann and Wormser, \{Eyal Merary\} and Nadav Elad and Aflalo, \{Eliahu D.\} and Amir Sagi and Steve Weiner and Lia Addadi and Dan Oron",

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AU - Yallapragada, Venkata Jayasurya

AU - Schiffmann, Nathan

AU - Wormser, Eyal Merary

AU - Elad, Nadav

AU - Aflalo, Eliahu D.

AU - Sagi, Amir

AU - Weiner, Steve

AU - Addadi, Lia

AU - Oron, Dan

PY - 2020/2/1

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N2 - Spectacular natural optical phenomena are produced by highly reflective assemblies of organic crystals. Here we show how the tapetum reflector in a shrimp eye is constructed from arrays of spherical isoxanthopterin nanoparticles and relate the particle properties to their optical function. The nanoparticles are composed of single-crystal isoxanthopterin nanoplates arranged in concentric lamellae around a hollow core. The spherulitic birefringence of the nanoparticles, which originates from the radial alignment of the plates, results in a significant enhancement of the back-scattering. This enables the organism to maximize the reflectivity of the ultrathin tapetum, which functions to increase the eye’s sensitivity and preserve visual acuity. The particle size, core/shell ratio and packing are also controlled to optimize the intensity and spectral properties of the tapetum back-scattering. This system offers inspiration for the design of photonic crystals constructed from spherically symmetric birefringent particles for use in ultrathin reflectors and as non-iridescent pigments.

AB - Spectacular natural optical phenomena are produced by highly reflective assemblies of organic crystals. Here we show how the tapetum reflector in a shrimp eye is constructed from arrays of spherical isoxanthopterin nanoparticles and relate the particle properties to their optical function. The nanoparticles are composed of single-crystal isoxanthopterin nanoplates arranged in concentric lamellae around a hollow core. The spherulitic birefringence of the nanoparticles, which originates from the radial alignment of the plates, results in a significant enhancement of the back-scattering. This enables the organism to maximize the reflectivity of the ultrathin tapetum, which functions to increase the eye’s sensitivity and preserve visual acuity. The particle size, core/shell ratio and packing are also controlled to optimize the intensity and spectral properties of the tapetum back-scattering. This system offers inspiration for the design of photonic crystals constructed from spherically symmetric birefringent particles for use in ultrathin reflectors and as non-iridescent pigments.

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A highly reflective biogenic photonic material from core–shell birefringent nanoparticles

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