title: Biomimetic reflectors fabricated using self-organising, self-aligning liquid crystal polymers.
abstract: The photograph shows a polymer reflector that mimics the colour and underlying molecular structure of a golden beetle. It is formed from self-organizing layers of photopolymerised liquid crystal. These require an aligning layer, but we show that a layer of the material can be used as to self-align subsequent coatings, enabling the construction of complex structures by sequential coating of engineered materials.
authors.affiliation: Hewlett-Packard Labs, Long Down Avenue, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8QZ, UK.
authors.forename: Ariosto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matranga
authors.forename: Sarwat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taphouse
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers