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Nature’s functional nanomaterials: Growth or self-assembly?
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Nature’s functional nanomaterials: Growth or self-assembly?

B.D. Wilts, P.L. Clode, N.H. Patel and G.E. Schröder-Turk
MRS Bulletin, Vol.44(2), pp.106-112
2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2019.21
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Abstract

Nature’s optical nanomaterials are poised to form the platform for future optical devices with unprecedented functionality. The brilliant colors of many animals arise from the physical interaction of light with nanostructured, multifunctional materials. While their length scale is typically in the 100-nm range, the morphology of these structures can vary strongly. These biological nanostructures are obtained in a controlled manner, using biomaterials under ambient conditions. The formation processes nature employs use elements of both equilibrium self-assembly and far-from-equilibrium and growth processes. This renders not only the colors themselves, but also the formation processes technologically and ecologically highly relevant. Yet, for many biological nanostructured materials, little is known about the formation mechanisms—partially due to a lack of in vivo imaging methods. Here, we present the toolbox of natural multifunctional nanostructures and the current knowledge about the understanding of their far-from-equilibrium assembly processes.

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22 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
5 Physics
5.38 Optical Electronics & Engineering
5.38.991 Photonic Crystals
Web Of Science research areas
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
ESI research areas
Materials Science
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