Bioinspired Materials for Selective Radiation Reflectance
Abstract
The structure and chemistry of materials can cause selective reflection of certain wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, which can be critically important to material function and longevity. Living organisms produce materials with such properties remarkably well, using relatively simple and cost-effective processes of self-assembly, but precisely how they do so remain unknown. Here, we propose to investigate form-function relationships of natural materials that selectively reflect 1) ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, 2) near infrared (NIR) wavelengths, or produce 3) broadband reflectance. We focus on, for 1) a keratin-based nanostructure in bird feathers that can reflect saturated UV, blue, or green colors depending on its spacing, 2) spider egg sacs that remain cool despite high radiative heat, and 3) soft mirrors , highly reflective skin in fish and birds. We propose to use microscopy (optical, electron, atomic force) and optical modeling (Finite Domain Time Difference) to identify nanostructural and chemical (Raman, FTIR) contributions to selective reflectance. We will then partially replicate or produce bioinspired mimics of these materials in the lab using tools for 1) controlled phase separation, 2) electrospinning and 3) layer-by-layer deposition. The powerful approach of using characterization to generate hypotheses that we then test using biomimicry will give us a better fundamental understanding of selective reflection and potentially produce new functional bioinspired materials. Our extensive preliminary data for UV reflective and thermally reflective materials gives these projects high probabilities of success. Soft mirrors are a new topic in our lab, but fits within our expertise, and it is thus riskier but likely to yield important new insights in broadband reflectance from flexible materials over the three years of this grant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 22, 2024
- Source ID
- FA86552317041
Entities
People
- Matthew D. Shawkey
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Ghent University
- United States Air Force