Design and fabrication of recombinant reflectin-based Bragg reflectors: bio-design engineering and photoisomerism induced wavelength modulation

Abstract

The remarkable camouflage capabilities of cephalopods have inspired many to develop dynamic optical materials which exploit certain design principles and/or material properties from cephalopod dermal cells. Here, the angle-dependent optical properties of various single-layer reflectin thin-films are characterized within the UV-Vis-NIR regions. Following this, the design and fabrication of the first bio-inspired reflectin-based Bragg reflector is described, which was found to conserve the optical properties of single layer films but exhibit a unique characteristic; reduced angle-dependent reflectivity. Finally, a novel method of controlling reflectin thin-film optical properties is introduced; visible light-induced photoisomerism, representing a new class of reflectin-based optical materials.