Biomimetic Colour Engineering: from nature to applications

Professor Silvia Vignolini

• Monday 9 November 2026, 17:30 – 18:30
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture Theatre, Cambridge

Upcoming event Booking Recommended In-person Lecture Michaelmas Term

• Event cost: Free
• Disabled access?: Yes
• Booking required: No

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Overview

The most brilliant colours in nature are obtained by structuring transparent materials on the scale of the wavelength of visible light. By designing the dimensions of such nanostructures, it is possible to achieve extremely intense colourations over the entire visible spectrum without using pigments or colourants. Colour obtained through structure, namely structural colour, is widespread in nature.

This seminar delves into the intriguing phenomenon of structural coloration observed in nature, where organisms produce vibrant hues without the use of conventional pigments or colorants. By manipulating nanostructures at the scale of visible light wavelengths, stunning colors are achieved across the entire spectrum. The diverse range of natural photonic nanostructures, from meticulously ordered to entirely random, will be explored, alongside recent progress in mimicking these structures using cellulose, a widely available and low-cost polymer found in plants.

This biomimetic approach not only holds promise for the development of new photonic materials under ambient conditions but also sheds light on the biological processes underlying their formation in living organisms.

Speaker Biographies

Professor Silvia Vignolini Professor of Chemistry and Bio-materials Photonic structures in Nature and Bio-mimetic Materials Research in the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge.

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