Selective optical gas sensors using butterfly wing scales nanostructures

摘要

Photonic crystals are periodic dielectric nanocomposites, which have photonic band gaps that forbid the propagation of light within certain frequency ranges. This property enables one to manipulate light with amazing facility. Such nanoarchitectures frequently occur in living organism like butterflies and beetles. Butterfly scales are particularly well suited to be used as optical gas sensors as their nanoarchitecture is an open "sponge-like" type, composed of chitin and air. The open nanoarchitecure allows fast gas exchange. The spectral change of the reflected light depends on the composition of the ambient atmosphere and also on the wing nanostructure. In this work we show the results of recent measurements on nine Polyommatine species with dorsal blue coloration. Their color is generated by similar "pepper-pot" type nanoarchitectures which exhibit species specific characteristics, associated with species specific color. Experiments were carried out changing the concentration and nature of test vapors while monitoring the spectral variations in time. Proper data processing results gas-selective and concentration dependent signals. Our work shows a way to a prospective integrated biological - optical sensor combining light-weight and low power consuming with environmental friendly production.