Reversible embroidered ball-like antireflective structure arrays inspired by leafhopper wings

Highly transparent leafhopper (Thaia rubiginosa) wings are self-decorated with embroidered ball-shaped proteinaceous brochosmoes as distinct anti-predator defenses. The non-sticky brochosomal coating serves as antireflective structures for camouflage in vegetated environments. Inspired by the leafhopper wings, this study reports a new type of reversible antireflection coating enabled by integrating self assembly methodologies using a shape memory polymer. The resulting embroidered ball-like structure array establishes a refractive index transition on surface, and thereby behaves omnidirectional antireflective characteristics in a broadband visible light region. Interestingly, the highly transparent appearance can be instantly erased and recovered by submerging in common liquids, such as water and ethanol, or by applying contact pressures at ambient conditions. Furthermore, the reversibility and structure shape effect on the antireflective characteristics are systematically evaluated in this study. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The highly transparent leafhopper wings are decorated with embroidered ball-shaped proteinaceous brochosomes as effective anti-predator defenses. Inspired by this, a new reversible antireflection coating has been developed using shape memory polymer, exhibiting omnidirectional antireflective characteristics in visible light and the ability to instantly erase and recover transparency through immersion in liquids or applying pressure. The study systematically evaluates the reversibility and structure shape effects on the antireflective properties.