Bioinspired photonic structures by the reflector layer of firefly lantern for highly efficient chemiluminescence

Subjects: Biology >> Biophysics submitted time 2016-05-11

Chen, Linfeng Shi, Xiaodi Li, Mingzhu Su, Bin Jiang, Lei Song, Yanlin Hu, Junping Wen, Yongqiang Han, Dong Sun, Shufeng

Abstract： Fireflies have drawn considerable attention for thousands of years due to their highly efficient bioluminescence, which is important for fundamental research and photonic applications. However, there are few reports on the reflector layer (RL) of firefly lantern, which contributes to the bright luminescence. Here we presented the detailed microstructure of the RL consisting of random hollow granules, which had high reflectance in the range from 450 nm to 800 nm. Inspired by the firefly lantern, artificial films with high reflectance in the visible region were fabricated using hollow silica microparticles mimicking the structure of the RL. Additionally, the bioinspired structures provided an efficient RL for the chemiluminescence system and could substantially enhance the initial chemiluminescence intensity. The work not only provides new insight into the bright bioluminescence of fireflies, but also is importance for the design of photonic materials for theranostics, detection, and imaging.

Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review

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