Birdwing Butterfly Wings Absorb Light Efficiently

Function

Birdwing butterflies absorb light energy efficiently, due not only to their black pigmentation, but also to their special wing structure. Scales on the wings overlap to form a microstructure of hexagonal honeycomb shapes. This honeycomb structure refracts sunlight toward the black pigment, where it is absorbe and converted into electrical energy, and then finally changed into heat.

Functional Classification

Resouce/Energy/Information Collection & Storage:
Light collecting
Defense/Stability:
Light control

Environmental Solution Classification

Related Literature

"Vukusic, P., Sambles, J. R. & Lawrence, C. R. Structurally assisted blackness in butterfly scales. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, published online, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2003.0150 (2004). Gr tzel, M. Nature 2001 414 338 Zhang et al. Novel Photoanode Structure Templated from Butterfly Wing Scales. Chemistry of Materials, 2009; 21 (1): 33 DOI: 10.1021/cm702458p"

Technical Application

Butterflies’ mechanism for light absorption can be used to design dye-sensitized solar cells that absorb light efficiently.

Products and Services

  • Dye-sensitized solar cells.

Type of Business

Proposals of Applied Technology

Light absorption can be used to prevent light from scattering and therefore increase the heat absorption rate of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Proposals of Applied Industry

Related Life Style