Butterfly scales and structural colours
- Admin
- Aug 6, 2020
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 6, 2021


The cross-disciplinary research team from NUS and SUTD are trying to better understand how exactly (structurally, optically and developmentally) nature produces and tunes photonic or structural color producing nanostructures, in almost all cases these are self-assembled at the visible optical length scale, that we cannot achieve easily using synthetic materials and they provide a nice template for biomimicry. We are taking apart the hierarchical structure of a butterfly scale layer by layer and seeing how each layer contributes to the colour so that we can mimic the same with metamaterials later.
The team’s also been innovating nanoscale 3D printing (e.g., such as those found in butterflies) followed by heat-shrinking. Some of their research is available here, here and here.
Lead Investigators & Collaborators: Professor Antonio Monteiro, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. Related research here.
Dr Vinod Saranathan, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore.
Dr Joel Yang – Associate Professor, Materials Science, Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology & Design.
Dr. Javier G. Fernandez, (Assistant Professor, Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design.


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The structural colors found in butterfly scales are a stunning reminder of how much nature can inspire design. Mimicking these effects through advanced fabrication could open up new frontiers in materials science. Just as researchers learn from nature, hobbyists and creators can explore intricate designs through 3d printable files where fan-made STL files bring fantasy to life. Both fields share the same excitement: pushing boundaries with 3D printing. Nature-inspired printing could even lead to more sustainable and efficient materials down the road.
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The research by NUS and SUTD dives deep into the natural mechanisms behind photonic structures in butterfly scales, aiming to replicate them with metamaterials. By analyzing each hierarchical layer, they hope to understand how nature achieves vibrant color through self-assembly. This biomimicry approach could revolutionize material science and optics. Just like in research, precision matters in writing too using an assignment proofreading service ensures every detail in your academic work is clear and well-structured. Whether in science or writing, accuracy makes all the difference.