Dynamic structural color from the one-dimensional photonic structure in the nacre of Pteria Penguin

Dynamic structural color in the nacre of Pteria Penguin was reported in this paper. The structural color and microstructure of the nacre were investigated by reflection spectra, theoretical simulation, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results indicate that the nacre has one-dimensional photonic structural characteristics, and the lattice constant can decreased from 393 nm to 249 nm along the vertical growth line direction from growth area to central area, which leading to the same grade reflection peak wavelength significantly blue-shifts from growth area to central area. Depending on the optical photos of natural cross sections, and the reflection spectra of powers from different areas in the nacre show that the pigments may significantly strengthen the structural color by absorbing background reflected light, and the structural color of the nacre are derived from the combination effects of one-dimensional photonic structure and pigments in the nacre.