Biological photonic crystals

Abstract

In this chapter, photonic crystal structures in plants and animals are reviewed. From the perspective of materials science, they can be considered as hybrid nanostructured material systems, comprising inorganic and organic components with appropriate refractive index contrast. General principles of structure formation, the influence of disorder, and possible biological functions are elucidated. Giving examples from the most important and well-investigated taxa, the occurring material combinations and composite structures are presented. Actual trends in biophotonic crystal research that arise interest for applications in materials science are the investigation of photonic glasses and the preparation of natural artificial hybrid structures with combined properties for the manipulation of light.