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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

Multi‐Biomimetic Structural Colors Inspired by Pearls and Bird Feathers

  • Zhiwei Wang1
  • Qiuyu Cheng1
  • Qiuyu Jin1
  • Fu Tang1,2
  • Wenbin Cao2
  • Ayahisa Okawa1
  • Takuya Hasegawa1
  • Takehiro Goto3
  • Natsumi Yamaguchi3
  • Takumi Tanaka3
  • Te‐Wei Chiu4
  • Tohru Sekino5
1 more authors
  • Shu Yin1,6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Material (IMRAM) Tohoku University Sendai Japan
  2. 2School of Materials Science and Engineering University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing China
  3. 3Research and Development Department Daito Kasei Kogyo CO. LTD. Osaka Japan
  4. 4Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering National Taipei University of Technology Taipei Taiwan
  5. 5SANKEN The University of Osaka Osaka Japan
  6. 6Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI‐AIMR) Tohoku University Sendai Japan
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Abstract

One‐dimensional photonic crystals (1D PCs) enable precise control of light–matter interactions and display stable structural colors. However, their optical performance critically depends on strict periodicity and nanometer‐scale control of thickness, necessitating complex fabrication processes. In this work, we present a bio‐inspired structural coloration strategy that avoids these limitations by mimicking the structures of pearls and bird feathers. Specifically, a pearl‐like inorganic multilayer architecture lacking strict periodicity was synthesized via a facile solution‐based method. Distinct from traditional 1D PCs, this structure does not rely on precise periodicity, yet preserves the alternating refractive index modulation characteristic of 1D PCs. This disordered multilayer structure causes multiple reflections and partially coherent interference at internal interfaces, resulting in vivid and stable structural colors. Furthermore, inspired by the broadband‐absorbing melanin in bird feathers, surface‐integrated absorbing materials were introduced to selectively suppress non‐target interference. By tuning the absorbing materials, a continuous structural color spectrum covering the visible range can be achieved. The resulting biomimetic optical materials are readily processable and compatible with paints, plastics, coatings, and cosmetic applications.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wang2026multibiomimetic,
  title = {{Multi‐Biomimetic Structural Colors Inspired by Pearls and Bird Feathers}},
  author = {Zhiwei Wang and Qiuyu Cheng and Qiuyu Jin and Fu Tang and Wenbin Cao and Ayahisa Okawa and Takuya Hasegawa and Takehiro Goto and Natsumi Yamaguchi and Takumi Tanaka and Te‐Wei Chiu and Tohru Sekino and Shu Yin},
  journal = {Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1002/adma.75074},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.75074},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Multi‐Biomimetic Structural Colors Inspired by Pearls and Bird Feathers
AU  - Zhiwei Wang
AU  - Qiuyu Cheng
AU  - Qiuyu Jin
AU  - Fu Tang
AU  - Wenbin Cao
AU  - Ayahisa Okawa
AU  - Takuya Hasegawa
AU  - Takehiro Goto
AU  - Natsumi Yamaguchi
AU  - Takumi Tanaka
AU  - Te‐Wei Chiu
AU  - Tohru Sekino
AU  - Shu Yin
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/22
JO  - Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
DO  - 10.1002/adma.75074
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.75074
AB  - One‐dimensional photonic crystals (1D PCs) enable precise control of light–matter interactions and display stable structural colors. However, their optical performance critically depends on strict periodicity and nanometer‐scale control of thickness, necessitating complex fabrication processes. In this work, we present a bio‐inspired structural coloration strategy that avoids these limitations by mimicking the structures of pearls and bird feathers. Specifically, a pearl‐like inorganic multilayer architecture lacking strict periodicity was synthesized via a facile solution‐based method. Distinct from traditional 1D PCs, this structure does not rely on precise periodicity, yet preserves the alternating refractive index modulation characteristic of 1D PCs. This disordered multilayer structure causes multiple reflections and partially coherent interference at internal interfaces, resulting in vivid and stable structural colors. Furthermore, inspired by the broadband‐absorbing melanin in bird feathers, surface‐integrated absorbing materials were introduced to selectively suppress non‐target interference. By tuning the absorbing materials, a continuous structural color spectrum covering the visible range can be achieved. The resulting biomimetic optical materials are readily processable and compatible with paints, plastics, coatings, and cosmetic applications.
SN  - 0935-9648
SN  - 1521-4095
ER  -