title: Replication of Leaf Surface Structures for Light Harvesting.
abstract: As one of the most important hosts of natural light harvesting, foliage normally has complicated surface structures to capture solar radiances. Bio-mimicking leaf surface structures can provide novel designs of covers in photovoltaic systems. In this article, we reported on replicating leaf surface structures on poly-(methyl methacrylate) polymers to prompt harvesting efficiencies. Prepared via a double transfer process, the polymers were found to have high optical transparencies and transmission hazes, with both values exceeding 80% in some species. Benefiting from optical properties and wrinkled surfaces, the biomimetic polymers brought up to 17% gains to photovoltaic efficiencies. Through Monte-Carlo simulations of light transport, ultrahigh haze values and low reflections were attributed to lightwave guidance schemes lead by the nano- and micro-morphologies which are inherited from master leaves. Thus, leaf surface bio-mimicking can be considered as a strategic direction to design covers of light harvesting systems.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China.
authors.forename: Zhongjia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China.
authors.forename: Sai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Soochow University-Western University Centre for Synchrotron Radiation Research, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Material (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science &Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Molecular Materials, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, FIN-90014, Finland.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D008027:Light; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves; D013499:Surface Properties