title: Bio-inspired networks for optoelectronic applications.
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.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Yuanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Ruopeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China [2] School of Physics and Telecommunication Engineering, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Junyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herczynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kempa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and TcSUH, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA.
authors.forename: Zhifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Materials and Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Jinwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao