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Related Concept Videos

Structural Isomerism02:34

Structural Isomerism

Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Color Vision01:24

Color Vision

Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.
Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence01:26

Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence

Fluorescence and phosphorescence are essential phenomena in fields like analytical chemistry, biological imaging, and materials science, where they detect molecular properties and visualize cellular structures. Understanding the variables that influence these luminescent behaviors is crucial for maximizing accuracy and efficiency in their applications. These variables can broadly be grouped into chemical structure, solvent properties, and external conditions, each playing a distinct role in...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems01:32

UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems

Organic compounds with conjugated double bonds show strong absorption features in the UV–visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum attributed to π → π* electronic excitations. Generally, a UV–vis absorption spectrum is recorded as a plot of absorbance vs wavelength. The wavelength of maximum absorbance, which manifests as a peak in the absorption spectrum, is denoted as λmax.
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent of conjugation in the...
Colors and Magnetism03:02

Colors and Magnetism

Color in Coordination Complexes
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.

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Measuring Spatially- and Directionally-varying Light Scattering from Biological Material
11:57

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Published on: May 20, 2013

Bio-inspired variable structural color materials.

Yuanjin Zhao1, Zhuoying Xie, Hongcheng Gu

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.

Chemical Society Reviews
|February 4, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores natural and bio-inspired photonic materials with variable structural colors. These advanced materials, mimicking nature, offer exciting applications in displays and sensors.

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Area of Science:

  • Optics and Photonics
  • Materials Science
  • Biomimetics

Background:

  • Natural structural color materials, especially those with reversible changes, are gaining significant research attention.
  • Many nanostructured photonic materials with tunable structural colors have been developed, inspired by natural organisms.
  • These materials are crucial for applications in switches, display devices, and sensors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an up-to-date review of natural and bio-inspired photonic materials exhibiting variable structural colors.
  • To discuss the designs, fabrication methods, and applications of artificial variable structural color photonic materials.
  • To present future development prospects for these advanced materials.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on natural and artificial structural color materials.
  • Analysis of bio-inspired designs and fabrication techniques for photonic materials.
  • Compilation of current and potential applications in various technological fields.

Main Results:

  • Variable structural colors in nature serve as a blueprint for artificial material design.
  • Significant progress has been made in developing nanostructured photonic materials with tunable colors.
  • These materials demonstrate diverse applications, including advanced sensors and display technologies.

Conclusions:

  • Bio-inspired photonic materials with variable structural colors hold immense potential for future technological advancements.
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration across biology, bionics, chemistry, optical physics, and material science is key to progress.
  • Further research will drive innovation in tunable color materials for next-generation devices.