Abstract
Diatoms are well known for the Intricately patterned nanostructure of their silica-based cell walls. To date, the optical properties of diatom cell-Wall ultrastructures have largely gone uncharacterised experimentally. Here we report the results of a detailed experimental Investigation of the way in which light interacts with file ultrastructure Of a representative centric diatom species, ...
Abstract
Diatoms are well known for the Intricately patterned nanostructure of their silica-based cell walls. To date, the optical properties of diatom cell-Wall ultrastructures have largely gone uncharacterised experimentally. Here we report the results of a detailed experimental Investigation of the way in which light interacts with file ultrastructure Of a representative centric diatom species, Coscinodiscus wailesii. Light interaction both with individual valves and whole bivalves of the diatom C. wailesii Was measured. Significant sixfold symmetric diffraction through the valve ultrastructure was observed in transmission and quantified to efficiencies that were found to be strongly wavelength dependent;, approximately 80% for red, 30% for green, and 20% for blue light. While these results may potentially offer insight into the role of periodic nanostructures in diatom selection, they are also important for consideration in the design biomimetic optics-based diatom applications.
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