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Related Concept Videos

Metallic Solids02:37

Metallic Solids

18.0K
Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and...
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Ionic Crystal Structures02:42

Ionic Crystal Structures

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Ionic crystals consist of two or more different kinds of ions that usually have different sizes. The packing of these ions into a crystal structure is more complex than the packing of metal atoms that are the same size.
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
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Lattice Centering and Coordination Number02:33

Lattice Centering and Coordination Number

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The structure of a crystalline solid, whether a metal or not, is best described by considering its simplest repeating unit, which is referred to as its unit cell. The unit cell consists of lattice points that represent the locations of atoms or ions. The entire structure then consists of this unit cell repeating in three dimensions. The three different types of unit cells present in the cubic lattice are illustrated in Figure 1.
Types of Unit Cells
Imagine taking a large number of identical...
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Structures of Solids02:22

Structures of Solids

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Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...
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Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes02:46

Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes

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Tetrahedral Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than...
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Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes02:58

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

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Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
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Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
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Hexagonal-Close-Packed Colloidal Crystals in Glenea celestis Beetles.

Alessandro Parisotto1, Vinodkumar Saranathan2, Ullrich Steiner1

  • 1Adolphe Merkle Institute University of Fribourg Chemin des Verdiers 4 1700 Fribourg Switzerland.

Small Science
|April 11, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Structural colors in green and blue Glenea celestis beetles arise from novel hexagonal-close-packed colloidal crystals within their scales. This discovery advances our understanding of structural coloration in insects.

Keywords:
biodiversitybiophotonicscolloidal crystalshexagonal-close-packedphotonic crystals

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science
  • Entomology

Background:

  • Structural coloration in nature is often produced by colloidal crystals.
  • The precise mechanisms behind these colors are not fully understood in many species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the origin of structural color in the iridescent scales of Glenea celestis beetles.
  • To characterize the colloidal crystal structures responsible for the observed green and blue hues.

Main Methods:

  • Focused ion-beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) for ultrastructural analysis.
  • Synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to determine crystal packing.
  • Full-wave optical simulations to model color properties.

Main Results:

  • Identified previously undocumented hexagonal-close-packed colloidal crystals in Glenea celestis scales.
  • Correlated the specific crystal structure with the observed iridescent green and blue colors.
  • Optical simulations confirmed the role of these structures in generating structural color.

Conclusions:

  • The structural color of Glenea celestis beetles is attributed to unique hexagonal-close-packed colloidal crystals.
  • This finding contributes to the broader understanding of structural color mechanisms in insects.
  • Further research is needed to explore the developmental aspects of these beetle scale structures.