Seminar given by Martín López, from Instituto de Óptica, CSIC
Natural systems as diverse as insects, birds, and plants have evolved complez photonic structures to manipulate light at the micr- and nanoscale. Until recently, bioinspired photonics has focused primarily on the striking colors produced by these nanostructures. However, their significance extends far beyond coloration. In recent years, physicists, biologists, and chemists have collaborated to unveil natural photonic structures in photosynthetic organisms such as plants [1] and algae [2]. These structures play a crucial role in photon absorption, photoprotection, and even heat dissipation. Beyond fundamental research, their bioinspired applications range from artificial photosynthesis to thermal energy management and the development of sustainable, cost-effective colorants. In this seminar, I will introduce two of the most representative photosynthetic systems with intrinsic photonic properties: specialized photonic chloroplasts in higher plants and photonic microalgae exoskeletons[3]. Additionally, I will present our recent efforts in sourcing and manipulating these natural structures for various applications, including energy harvesting. References M. Jacobs, et al., "Photonic multilayer structure of Begonia chloroplasts enhances photosynthetic efficiency," Nat. Plants 2, 16162 (2016). M. Lopez-Garcia, et al., "Light induced dynamic structural color by intracellular 3D photonic crystals in brown algae", Sci. Adv. 4(April), eaan8917 (2018). J.W. Goessling, W.P. Wardley, M. Lopez-Garcia, Adavanced Science, 2020, 1903726.
Ponente del seminario: Martín López
Fecha del seminario: 19/03/2025
Lugar del seminario: Salón de Actos del IQF
