Leveraging the amazing natural properties of the Morpho
butterfly's wings, scientists have developed a nanobiocomposite material that
shows promise for wearable electronic devices, highly sensitive light sensors
and sustainable batteries. A report on the new hybrid material appears in the
journal ACS Nano.
Eijiro Miyako and colleagues explain that Morpho butterfly
wings have natural properties that are beyond the capabilities of any current
technology to reproduce artificially. In addition to being lightweight, thin
and flexible, the butterfly’s wings absorb solar energy, shed water quickly and
are self-cleaning. Miyako’s group had been working with tiny cylinders of
carbon termed carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and became fascinated with CNTs’ unique
electrical, mechanical, thermal and optical properties. Miyako’s team set out
to marry the wings and nanotubes to produce an all-new hybrid material.