Nature’s advanced optical materials and their role in thermal management

该项目旨在发现甲虫的纳米结构特性，从而有效地管理不同环境下的太阳和热辐射。进一步的目标是揭示这些复合生物材料如何将热控制与理想的机械性能（如强度和柔韧性）结合起来。被动控制辐射能对动物生存和许多制造材料的设计都至关重要，尤其是在一个变暖的世界里。这个跨学科的项目将提供关于生物材料与环境之间辐射能量交换的不同方式的新知识。这些知识对于设计生物灵感，节能，多功能材料至关重要。

This project aims to discover the nano-structural properties of beetles than enable effective management of solar and thermal radiation in different environments. A further aim is to reveal how these composite biological materials combine thermal control with desirable mechanical properties, such as strength and flexibility. Passive control of radiative energy is critical for both animal survival and for the design of many manufactured materials, particularly in a warming world. This interdisciplinary project will provide new knowledge of the different ways that biological materials mediate radiative energy exchange with the environment. This knowledge is essential for the design of bioinspired, energy-efficient, multi-functional materials.