How the Eurasian Jay Expands its Color Palette by Optimizing Multiple Scattering

Advanced Optical Materials, vol. 11

Abstract

Abstract The production of structural color in nature is still incompletely understood. Multiple scattering exerts critical effects on synthetic disordered systems, but its effects on structural colors in natural materials are not yet well known. Here, electron microscopy, optical modeling, and biomimicry are used to show that variation in the thickness of the feather nanostructures creates periodic color variations in Eurasian jay wing covert feathers, with nanostructures within white feather regions being two times thicker than those in blue portions. This finding reveals that multiple scattering expands the natural color palette of the Eurasian jay by extending reflection to longer wavelengths in thicker spongy layers. Furthermore, it is found that the white color of Eurasian jay feathers is produced even in the presence of melanin due to a sufficiently thick spongy layer reflecting all visible wavelengths. Inspired by the Eurasian jay design solution, a one‐step self‐assembly method for mimicking periodic color variations in a synthetic context is described. Thus, the colors of natural color‐producing materials are modulated by changing only the thickness of the materials, leading to multiple scattering effects.

Authors 7

1. Deok‐Jin Jeon

   Yonsei University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Integrated Technology Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology Yonsei University Incheon 21983 Republic of Korea

   School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983 Republic of Korea

2. Seungmuk Ji

   Yonsei University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Integrated Technology Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology Yonsei University Incheon 21983 Republic of Korea

   School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983 Republic of Korea

3. Eunok Lee

   National Institute of Ecology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Research Planning National Institute of Ecology Chungcheongnam‐do 33657 Republic of Korea

   Department of Research Planning, National Institute of Ecology, Chungcheongnam-do, 33657 Republic of Korea

4. Jihun Kang

   Yonsei University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Integrated Technology Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology Yonsei University Incheon 21983 Republic of Korea

   School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983 Republic of Korea

5. Liliana D’Alba Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center · Ghent University

   Affiliation as printed

   Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group Department of Biology Ghent University Ledeganckstraat 35 Ghent 9000 Belgium

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center Darwinweg 2 Leiden 2333 CR The Netherlands

   Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, Ghent, 9000 Belgium

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, Leiden, 2333 CR The Netherlands

6. Matthew D. Shawkey

   Ghent University

   Affiliation as printed

   Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group Department of Biology Ghent University Ledeganckstraat 35 Ghent 9000 Belgium

   Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, Ghent, 9000 Belgium

7. Jong‐Souk Yeo corresponding

   Yonsei University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Integrated Technology Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology Yonsei University Incheon 21983 Republic of Korea

   School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983 Republic of Korea