Liquid–liquid phase separation morphologies in ultra-white beetle scales and a synthetic equivalent

S.L. Burg; A. Washington; A. Bianco; D. McLoughlin; O.O. Mykhaylyk; J. Villanova; A.J.C. Dennison; P. Vukusic; S. Doak; S.R. Parnell; C. Vasilev; A.J. Ryan; W. Furnass; M. Croucher; R.M. Dalgliesh; S. Prevost; R. Dattani; R.A.L. Jones; J.P.A. Fairclough; A.J. Parnell

doi:10.1038/s42004-019-0202-8

Liquid–liquid phase separation morphologies in ultra-white beetle scales and a synthetic equivalent

S.L. Burg, A. Washington, A. Bianco, D. McLoughlin, O.O. Mykhaylyk, J. Villanova, A.J.C. Dennison, P. Vukusic, S. Doak, S.R. Parnell, C. Vasilev, A.J. Ryan, W. Furnass, M. Croucher, R.M. Dalgliesh, S. Prevost, R. Dattani, R.A.L. Jones, J.P.A. Fairclough, A.J. Parnell

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Abstract

Cyphochilus beetle scales are amongst the brightest structural whites in nature, being highly opacifying whilst extremely thin. However, the formation mechanism for the voided intra-scale structure is unknown. Here we report 3D x-ray nanotomography data for the voided chitin networks of intact white scales of Cyphochilus and Lepidiota stigma. Chitin-filling fractions are found to be 31 ± 2% for Cyphochilus and 34 ± 1% for Lepidiota stigma, indicating previous measurements overestimated their density. Optical simulations using finite-difference time domain for the chitin morphologies and simulated Cahn-Hilliard spinodal structures show excellent agreement. Reflectance curves spanning filling fraction of 5-95% for simulated spinodal structures, pinpoint optimal whiteness for 25% chitin filling. We make a simulacrum from a polymer undergoing a strong solvent quench, resulting in highly reflective (~94%) white films. In-situ X-ray scattering confirms the nanostructure is formed through spinodal decomposition phase separation. We conclude that the ultra-white beetle scale nanostructure is made via liquid–liquid phase separation.

Original language	English
Article number	100
Journal	Communications Chemistry
Volume	2
Early online date	29 Aug 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-019-0202-8
Publication status	Published - 29 Aug 2019

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Burg, S. L., Washington, A., Bianco, A., McLoughlin, D., Mykhaylyk, O. O., Villanova, J., Dennison, A. J. C., Vukusic, P., Doak, S., Parnell, S. R., Vasilev, C., Ryan, A. J., Furnass, W., Croucher, M., Dalgliesh, R. M., Prevost, S., Dattani, R., Jones, R. A. L., Fairclough, J. P. A., & Parnell, A. J. (2019). Liquid–liquid phase separation morphologies in ultra-white beetle scales and a synthetic equivalent. Communications Chemistry, 2, Article 100. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-019-0202-8

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title = "Liquid–liquid phase separation morphologies in ultra-white beetle scales and a synthetic equivalent",

abstract = "Cyphochilus beetle scales are amongst the brightest structural whites in nature, being highly opacifying whilst extremely thin. However, the formation mechanism for the voided intra-scale structure is unknown. Here we report 3D x-ray nanotomography data for the voided chitin networks of intact white scales of Cyphochilus and Lepidiota stigma. Chitin-filling fractions are found to be 31 ± 2% for Cyphochilus and 34 ± 1% for Lepidiota stigma, indicating previous measurements overestimated their density. Optical simulations using finite-difference time domain for the chitin morphologies and simulated Cahn-Hilliard spinodal structures show excellent agreement. Reflectance curves spanning filling fraction of 5-95% for simulated spinodal structures, pinpoint optimal whiteness for 25% chitin filling. We make a simulacrum from a polymer undergoing a strong solvent quench, resulting in highly reflective (~94%) white films. In-situ X-ray scattering confirms the nanostructure is formed through spinodal decomposition phase separation. We conclude that the ultra-white beetle scale nanostructure is made via liquid–liquid phase separation.",

author = "S.L. Burg and A. Washington and A. Bianco and D. McLoughlin and O.O. Mykhaylyk and J. Villanova and A.J.C. Dennison and P. Vukusic and S. Doak and S.R. Parnell and C. Vasilev and A.J. Ryan and W. Furnass and M. Croucher and R.M. Dalgliesh and S. Prevost and R. Dattani and R.A.L. Jones and J.P.A. Fairclough and A.J. Parnell",

year = "2019",

month = aug,

day = "29",

doi = "10.1038/s42004-019-0202-8",

language = "English",

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journal = "Communications Chemistry",

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Burg, SL, Washington, A, Bianco, A, McLoughlin, D, Mykhaylyk, OO, Villanova, J, Dennison, AJC, Vukusic, P, Doak, S, Parnell, SR, Vasilev, C, Ryan, AJ, Furnass, W, Croucher, M, Dalgliesh, RM, Prevost, S, Dattani, R, Jones, RAL, Fairclough, JPA & Parnell, AJ 2019, 'Liquid–liquid phase separation morphologies in ultra-white beetle scales and a synthetic equivalent', Communications Chemistry, vol. 2, 100. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-019-0202-8

TY - JOUR

T1 - Liquid–liquid phase separation morphologies in ultra-white beetle scales and a synthetic equivalent

AU - Burg, S.L.

AU - Washington, A.

AU - Bianco, A.

AU - McLoughlin, D.

AU - Mykhaylyk, O.O.

AU - Villanova, J.

AU - Dennison, A.J.C.

AU - Vukusic, P.

AU - Doak, S.

AU - Parnell, S.R.

AU - Vasilev, C.

AU - Ryan, A.J.

AU - Furnass, W.

AU - Croucher, M.

AU - Dalgliesh, R.M.

AU - Prevost, S.

AU - Dattani, R.

AU - Jones, R.A.L.

AU - Fairclough, J.P.A.

AU - Parnell, A.J.

PY - 2019/8/29

Y1 - 2019/8/29

N2 - Cyphochilus beetle scales are amongst the brightest structural whites in nature, being highly opacifying whilst extremely thin. However, the formation mechanism for the voided intra-scale structure is unknown. Here we report 3D x-ray nanotomography data for the voided chitin networks of intact white scales of Cyphochilus and Lepidiota stigma. Chitin-filling fractions are found to be 31 ± 2% for Cyphochilus and 34 ± 1% for Lepidiota stigma, indicating previous measurements overestimated their density. Optical simulations using finite-difference time domain for the chitin morphologies and simulated Cahn-Hilliard spinodal structures show excellent agreement. Reflectance curves spanning filling fraction of 5-95% for simulated spinodal structures, pinpoint optimal whiteness for 25% chitin filling. We make a simulacrum from a polymer undergoing a strong solvent quench, resulting in highly reflective (~94%) white films. In-situ X-ray scattering confirms the nanostructure is formed through spinodal decomposition phase separation. We conclude that the ultra-white beetle scale nanostructure is made via liquid–liquid phase separation.

AB - Cyphochilus beetle scales are amongst the brightest structural whites in nature, being highly opacifying whilst extremely thin. However, the formation mechanism for the voided intra-scale structure is unknown. Here we report 3D x-ray nanotomography data for the voided chitin networks of intact white scales of Cyphochilus and Lepidiota stigma. Chitin-filling fractions are found to be 31 ± 2% for Cyphochilus and 34 ± 1% for Lepidiota stigma, indicating previous measurements overestimated their density. Optical simulations using finite-difference time domain for the chitin morphologies and simulated Cahn-Hilliard spinodal structures show excellent agreement. Reflectance curves spanning filling fraction of 5-95% for simulated spinodal structures, pinpoint optimal whiteness for 25% chitin filling. We make a simulacrum from a polymer undergoing a strong solvent quench, resulting in highly reflective (~94%) white films. In-situ X-ray scattering confirms the nanostructure is formed through spinodal decomposition phase separation. We conclude that the ultra-white beetle scale nanostructure is made via liquid–liquid phase separation.

U2 - 10.1038/s42004-019-0202-8

DO - 10.1038/s42004-019-0202-8

M3 - Article

SN - 2399-3669

VL - 2

JO - Communications Chemistry

JF - Communications Chemistry

M1 - 100

ER -

Liquid–liquid phase separation morphologies in ultra-white beetle scales and a synthetic equivalent

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