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Light manipulation in a marine diatom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Joseph Noyes ,
Manfred Sumper  and
Pete Vukusic
Joseph Noyes
Affiliation:
School of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QL, United Kingdom
Manfred Sumper
Affiliation:
Lehrstuhl Biochemie I, Universität Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Pete Vukusic*
Affiliation:
School of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QL, United Kingdom
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: P.Vukusic@ex.ac.uk
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Abstract

Diatoms are well known for the intricately patterned nanostructure of their silica-based cell walls. To date, the optical properties of diatom cell-wall ultrastructures have largely gone uncharacterized experimentally. Here we report the results of a detailed experimental investigation of the way in which light interacts with the ultrastructure of a representative centric diatom species, Coscinodiscus wailesii. Light interaction both with individual valves and whole bivalves of the diatom C. wailesii was measured. Significant sixfold symmetric diffraction through the valve ultrastructure was observed in transmission and quantified to efficiencies that were found to be strongly wavelength dependent; approximately 80% for red, 30% for green, and 20% for blue light. While these results may potentially offer insight into the role of periodic nanostructure in diatom selection, they are also important for consideration in the design of biomimetic optics-based diatom applications.

Keywords

Biomimetic (assembly)OpticalOptical properties
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 23 , Issue 12: Biomimetic and Bio-enabled Materials Science and Engineering , December 2008 , pp. 3229 - 3235
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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