Bio-inspired networks for optoelectronic applications

Bing Han, Yuanlin Huang, Ruopeng Li, Qiang Peng, Junyi Luo, Ke Pei, Andrzej Herczynski, Krzysztof Kempa, Zhifeng Ren and Jinwei Gao ()
Additional contact information
Bing Han: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University
Yuanlin Huang: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University
Ruopeng Li: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University
Qiang Peng: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University
Junyi Luo: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University
Ke Pei: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University
Andrzej Herczynski: Boston College
Krzysztof Kempa: Boston College
Zhifeng Ren: University of Houston
Jinwei Gao: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Modern optoelectronics needs development of new materials characterized not only by high optical transparency and electrical conductivity, but also by mechanical strength, and flexibility. Recent advances employ grids of metallic micro- and nanowires, but the overall performance of the resulting material composites remains unsatisfactory. In this work, we propose a new strategy: application of natural scaffoldings perfected by evolution. In this context, we study two bio-inspired networks for two specific optoelectronic applications. The first network, intended for solar cells, light sources and similar devices, has a quasi-fractal structure and is derived directly from a chemically extracted leaf venation system. The second network is intended for touch screens and flexible displays, and is obtained by metalizing a spider’s silk web. We demonstrate that each of these networks attain an exceptional optoelectonic and mechanical performance for its intended purpose, providing a promising direction in the development of more efficient optoelectronic devices.

Date: 2014
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms6674 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6674

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6674

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().