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Published on: January 16, 2021
Spirulina-templated metal microcoils with controlled helical structures for THz electromagnetic responses
Kaori Kamata1, Zhenzi Piao2, Soichiro Suzuki3
11] Iyoda Supra-Integrated Material Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4259 Nagatsuta-Cho, Midori-Ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan [2] Research Society for Biotemplate Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-Cho, Midori-Ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
Researchers fabricated metal microcoils using a biotemplating process on Spirulina algae. This method leverages natural helical structures for mass production of microcoils with tunable parameters, showing potential for terahertz applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Nature exhibits ultrafine, ordered microstructures with biological functions.
- Spirulina algae possess a unique three-dimensional helical microstructure.
- Current fabrication methods like lithography lack mass-productivity and structural multiplicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a biotemplating process for fabricating metal microcoils using Spirulina.
- To control microcoil structural parameters through Spirulina cultivation.
- To investigate the terahertz-wave response of fabricated microcoils.
Main Methods:
- Biotemplating process utilizing Spirulina as a template.
- Controlled cultivation of Spirulina to vary structural parameters (diameter, pitch, length).
- Fabrication of metal microcoils on the Spirulina surface.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated metal microcoils with tunable structural parameters.
- Demonstrated the ability to create purely one-handed microcoils.
- A microcoil dispersion sheet showed an optically active response in the terahertz-wave region.
Conclusions:
- Spirulina's helical structure can be effectively biotemplated to create metal microcoils.
- Cultivation conditions offer control over microcoil dimensions.
- The fabricated microcoils exhibit unique optical properties in the terahertz spectrum.
