Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme

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SYBM: Symposium Bioinspired Materials

SYBM 1: Symposium Bioinspired Materials

SYBM 1.4: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 29, 2007, 11:15–11:45, H1

Bio-Inspired Organic-inorganic Hybrid Materials — •U. Steiner — University of Cambridge, Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE (UK)

Pattern formation in physics and chemistry is a consequence of non-linear processes, which are of fundamental interest. Recently, pattern formation by self-assembly or by instabilities in liquids were also employed in soft-lithographic methods. Patterns occurring in living organisms, on the other hand are formed under stick biological control and serve a specific purpose for the organism. Since the relationship between the pattern and its function was optimised by evolution, patterns occurring in nature are an interesting repository for physical effects that can be achieved by controlling physico-chemical pattern formation processes.

My presentation will discuss three examples of this biomimetic approach: (i) optical effects in structured films (anti-reflection and structural colours), (ii) structured super-hydrophobic surfaces, and (iii) structured bio-mimetic minerals.