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Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Synthesis of Plant Phenol-derived Polymeric Dyes for Direct or Mordant-based Hair Dyeing

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Published on: December 1, 2016

Bio-inspired structural colors and their applications.

Fengxiang Chen^1,2, Ya Huang¹, Run Li¹

¹Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. zhangrufan@tsinghua.edu.cn.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)

|December 1, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Bio-inspired structural colors offer brilliant, stable hues via nanostructures. This review covers natural examples, advanced manufacturing, and applications in displays and anti-counterfeiting, while addressing production challenges.

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Area of Science:

Optics and Photonics
Materials Science
Biomimetics

Background:

Structural colors arise from light interaction with nanostructured surfaces.
They offer advantages like vibrant colors, stability, and eco-friendliness.
Challenges include durability, mass production, and portability.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in bio-inspired structural colors.
To explore natural examples and artificial manufacturing strategies.
To discuss current and future applications and challenges.

Main Methods:

Review of natural structural color phenomena (interference, diffraction, scattering, photonic crystals).
Analysis of biomimetic artificial structural color fabrication techniques (self-assembly, ALD, sputtering).
Survey of applications in displays, anti-counterfeiting, and electronics.

Main Results:

Detailed overview of natural structural color mechanisms.
Compilation of various micro/nanoscale manufacturing methods for artificial structural colors.
Identification of diverse applications, from displays to stealth technology.

Conclusions:

Bio-inspired structural colors show significant potential across multiple fields.
Overcoming manufacturing and durability challenges is crucial for widespread adoption.
Further research will drive innovation in structural-color materials and applications.