Open AccessBiomimetic Optical Nanostructures
Author(s) -
Weishaupt Klaus,
Diao Zhaolu,
Brunner Robert,
Spatz Joachim
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
photonicsviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2626-1308
pISSN - 2626-1294
DOI - 10.1002/phvs.202000001
Subject(s) - nanostructure , nanotechnology , etching (microfabrication) , materials science , structural coloration , biomimetics , layer (electronics) , process (computing) , computer science , optoelectronics , photonic crystal , operating system
Optical nanostructures have evolved successfully in nature over millions of years. For example, such nanostructures are found on the compound eyes of night active insects. These “moth‐eye” structures offer extraordinary anti‐reflective (AR) properties and therefore allow the insects to hide from their predators. This concept has been transferred to technical applications and enables artificial AR characteristics on high‐end optical elements with performance advantages not possible with classical layer‐based AR coatings. An appropriate manufacturing technology combines self‐organization of nano‐particles with a reactive ion‐etching process.