When Black and White make Green: The surprising interplay of structure and pigments

Abstract

The natural world is teeming with color, which originates either from the wavelength-dependent absorption of light by pigments or from scattering from nanoscale structures, or both. While the latter ‘structural color’ has been a topic of intense study in recent years, the most vibrant colors in nature involve contributions from both structure and pigment. The study of structure–pigment interactions in biological systems is currently in its infancy and could inspire more technological applications, such as sustainable, toxin-free pigments and more efficient light harvesting.