Quasi-Sinusoidal Single Diamond Structure in Royal Jewel Butterfly: An Angle-Independent Photonic Structure

Abstract

Structural colouration with narrow spectral photonic bandwidth and high reflectivity is of critical importance for modern optical applications, including displays, laser systems, and optical sensing, etc. Achieving such angle independent colouration typically relies on polycrystalline or inherent structural disorder. However, balancing angular uniformity with high brightness and strong colour contrast remains challenging. Herein, we uncover the structural origin of the spectacular bright, angle-independent blue colouration of Hypochrysops polycletus, a sapphire-like Royal Jewel butterfly. Three-dimensional (3D) electron microscopy reveals that the dorsal wing scale has a single diamond structure, a 3D photonic crystal previously documented only in beetles and weevils. The crystal domains form an extraordinary quasi sinusoidal surface geometry with a distinct template morphology-guided arrangement. Unlike typically thicker biophotonic structures that support multiple high symmetry stopbands, this design contains only 3-4 unit cells in the propagation direction. Its optical response is dominated by the fundamental stopband, with two dominant scattering mechanisms: specular reflection at the {111} inclined sidewalls of the hierarchical structure, and funnelling into localised quasi-normal modes enabled by a strongly anisotropic Bloch transport. By mimicking these features with two-photon polymerisation, we artificially reproduced the optical response in the infrared region. The study opens a pathway towards bioinspired brilliant diffuse colouration and angle-robust photonic devices.