Abstract
The structural colour of male Hoplia coerulea beetles is notable for changing from blue to green upon contact with water. In fact, reversible changes in both colour and fluorescence are induced in this beetle by various liquids, although the mechanism has never been fully explained. Changes enacted by water are much faster than those by ethanol, in spite of ethanols more rapid spread across the elytral surface. Moreover, the beetles photonic structure is enclosed by a thin scale envelope preventing direct contact with the liquid. Here, we note the presence of sodium, potassium and calcium salts in the scale material that mediate the penetration of liquid through putative micropores. The result leads to the novel concept of aphotonic cell: namely, a biocompatible photonic structure that is encased by a permeable envelope which mediates liquid-induced colour changes in that photonic structure. Engineered photonic cells dispersed in culture media could revolutionize the monitoring of cell-metabolism.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 19322 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Scientific Reports |
| Volume | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Jan 2016 |
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Keywords
- Photonic bandgap materials
- Photonic crystals
- Color
- porosity
- Beetle
- Beetle scale
- Colorimetry
Cite this
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Liquid-induced colour change in a beetle: The concept of a photonic cell. / Mouchet, Sébastien; Van Hooijdonk, Eloise; Welch, Victoria; Louette, Pierre; Colomer, Jean-François; Su, Bao Lian; Deparis, Olivier.
In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, 19322, 13.01.2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Liquid-induced colour change in a beetle: The concept of a photonic cell
AU - Mouchet, Sébastien
AU - Van Hooijdonk, Eloise
AU - Welch, Victoria
AU - Louette, Pierre
AU - Colomer, Jean-François
AU - Su, Bao Lian
AU - Deparis, Olivier
PY - 2016/1/13
Y1 - 2016/1/13
N2 - The structural colour of male Hoplia coerulea beetles is notable for changing from blue to green upon contact with water. In fact, reversible changes in both colour and fluorescence are induced in this beetle by various liquids, although the mechanism has never been fully explained. Changes enacted by water are much faster than those by ethanol, in spite of ethanols more rapid spread across the elytral surface. Moreover, the beetles photonic structure is enclosed by a thin scale envelope preventing direct contact with the liquid. Here, we note the presence of sodium, potassium and calcium salts in the scale material that mediate the penetration of liquid through putative micropores. The result leads to the novel concept of aphotonic cell: namely, a biocompatible photonic structure that is encased by a permeable envelope which mediates liquid-induced colour changes in that photonic structure. Engineered photonic cells dispersed in culture media could revolutionize the monitoring of cell-metabolism.
AB - The structural colour of male Hoplia coerulea beetles is notable for changing from blue to green upon contact with water. In fact, reversible changes in both colour and fluorescence are induced in this beetle by various liquids, although the mechanism has never been fully explained. Changes enacted by water are much faster than those by ethanol, in spite of ethanols more rapid spread across the elytral surface. Moreover, the beetles photonic structure is enclosed by a thin scale envelope preventing direct contact with the liquid. Here, we note the presence of sodium, potassium and calcium salts in the scale material that mediate the penetration of liquid through putative micropores. The result leads to the novel concept of aphotonic cell: namely, a biocompatible photonic structure that is encased by a permeable envelope which mediates liquid-induced colour changes in that photonic structure. Engineered photonic cells dispersed in culture media could revolutionize the monitoring of cell-metabolism.
KW - Photonic bandgap materials
KW - Photonic crystals
KW - Color
KW - porosity
KW - Beetle
KW - Beetle scale
KW - Colorimetry
UR - http://www.nature.com/articles/srep19322
U2 - 10.1038/srep19322
DO - 10.1038/srep19322
M3 - Article
VL - 6
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
SN - 2045-2322
M1 - 19322
ER -