Chinese researchers have turned to the light absorbing
properties of butterfly wings to significantly increase the
efficiency of solar hydrogen cells, using biomimetics to copy
the nanostructure that allows for incredible light and heat
absorption. Butterflies are known to use heat from the sun to
warm themselves beyond what their bodies can provide, and this
new research takes a page from their evolution to improve
hydrogen fuel generation. Analyzing the wings of Papilio
helenus, the researchers found scales that are described as
having: [...] Ridges running the length of the scale with very
small holes on either side that opened up onto an underlying
layer. The steep walls of the ridges help funnel light into the
holes. The walls absorb longer wavelengths of light while
allowing shorter wavelengths to reach a membrane below the
scales. Using the images of the scales, the researchers created
computer models to confirm this filtering effect. The nano-hole
arrays change from wave guides for short wavelengths t