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Understanding the Mechanism of Flower Petal Transparency Change and Their Applications for Biomimetics

Research Project

Project/Area Number 19K05620
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 35020:Polymer materials-related
Research InstitutionChitose Institute of Science and Technology

Principal Investigator

Karthaus Olaf  公立千歳科学技術大学, 理工学部, 教授 (80261353)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 谷尾 宣久  公立千歳科学技術大学, 理工学部, 教授 (50217121)
Project Period (FY) 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Keywordsbiomimetics / flower petals / transparency / films / fluoropolymer / phase change / micropores / SEM / EDS / inorganic salt / flower petal / porous films / petals / leaves / PVDF copolymer / refractive index / microstructure / polymer films / phase separation
Outline of Research at the Start

The purpose of this research is the elucidation of the mechanisms by which flower petals turn transparent upon becoming wet. The petal microstructure most likely has air-filled voids that will be imaged by electron microscopy and a biomimetic version of the void structure will be prepared in polymer films. This process can be useful for the formation of reversibly transparent polymer films.

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The internal structure of flower petals was investigated by optical and electron micrsocopy and we found that air-filled voids are responsible for the white color of the petals by strong light scattering. We were able to fill these voids with liquids and gels that led to a change in opacity - the petals became transparent. As a biomimetic analogue we were able to produce porous films of a fluorinated polymer that showed the same change in transparency when dry and wet. In this case, the change was reversible, while in the petal case, it was not.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Biomimetics can produce functional materials by environmentally friendly processes that are energy-saving. The transparency change of films without any external triggers offers new applications in remote areas and can be used for automatic shading of windows or as sensors.

Report

(6 results)
  • 2023 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (15 results)

All 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019

All Journal Article (1 results) (of which Open Access: 1 results) Presentation (14 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 9 results,  Invited: 2 results)

  • [Journal Article] Structure of cellulose microfibers on the lower side of populus alba leaves and their use in composite materials2022

    • Author(s)
      Ryota Iida, Tatsuki Saito, Masayoshi Tabata, Thomas Berberich, and Olaf Karthaus
    • Journal Title

      Proc. CIF21

      Volume: 1

    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Open Access
  • [Presentation] Preparation and characterization of fluoro-polymer films aiming at the biomimetics of flower petals2023

    • Author(s)
      Olaf Karthaus, Shinon Takahashi, Shinpei Otaki, Thomas Berberich
    • Organizer
      高分子学会年次大会
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Floral Biomimetics2023

    • Author(s)
      Olaf Karthaus, Shinpei Otaki, Shion Sasaki, Yoshihiko Omura, Thomas Berberich
    • Organizer
      Korea-Japan Joint Forum
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Plant Biomimetics for Thin Film Applications2023

    • Author(s)
      Olaf Karthaus, Thomas Berberich, Yoshihiko Omura
    • Organizer
      International Conference on Organized Molecular Films
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Unusual biomaterials for environmentally friendly applications2022

    • Author(s)
      Olaf Karthaus, Shinon Takahashi, Takumi Arakawa, Shinpei Otaki, Norihisa Tanio, Masahiro Kawahara, Thomas Berberich, Shion Sasaki, Kazuhiro Dainaka, Hayate Sato, Chiharu Ueno, Sho Shibamura, Tomomi Matsumura, Masahiro Kashiwao, Katja Drerup, Yoshihiko Omura
    • Organizer
      International Workshop on Advanced Engineering Materials
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Water Condensation-Controlled Transparency Change of Windows2022

    • Author(s)
      Olaf Karthaus, Takumi Arakawa, Shinpei Otaki, Masahiro Kawahara, Thomas Berberich
    • Organizer
      The 22nd International Vacuum Congress(IVC-22)
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Transparent Flower Petals and their Biomimetic Polymer Films for Optic Applications2021

    • Author(s)
      Olaf Karthaus, Takumi Arakawa, Shinpei Otaki, Norihisa Tanio, Masahiro Kawahara, Thomas Berberich
    • Organizer
      European Advanced Material Congress
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Preparation and Optical Properties of Porous Films of Fluorinated Polymers that Exhibit Reversible Transparency Change2021

    • Author(s)
      Olaf Karthaus, Takumi Arakawa, Shinpei Otaki, Norihisa Tanio, Masahiro Kawahara, Thomas Berberich
    • Organizer
      2021 KJF International Conference on Organic Materials for Electronics and Photonics
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 水分によって可逆的に透明、不透明になるフッ素高分子多孔質膜の作製2021

    • Author(s)
      大滝 晋平、川原 正裕、Thomas Berberich、Olaf Karthaus
    • Organizer
      第 55 回 (2020 年度) 高分子学会北海道支部研究発表会
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] サンカヨウの花弁を模倣したフッ素高分子多孔質膜の作製及び評価2020

    • Author(s)
      大滝晋平、Olaf Karthaus、荒川卓巳
    • Organizer
      第69回高分子討論会
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 界面活性剤の水溶液による花弁及ひPVDFコホリマー膜の透明化2020

    • Author(s)
      荒川 卓巳 、尾崎 百花 、Olaf Karthaus
    • Organizer
      第 54 回 高分子学会北海道支部研究発表会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Opaque, Translucent, and Transparent Flower Petals2019

    • Author(s)
      Takumi Arakawa, Olaf Karthaus
    • Organizer
      5th Euro BioMAT
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] ransparent Plower Petals and their Biomimetics. Useful Lessons for Polymer Thin Films for Optical Applications2019

    • Author(s)
      Olaf Karthaus, Takumi Arakawa, Ryota Wakabayashi
    • Organizer
      2019 KJF-ICOMEP
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Nature Photonics: Opaque, Translucent and Transparent Flower Petals2019

    • Author(s)
      Takumi Arakawa, Ryota Wakabayashi, Olaf Karthaus
    • Organizer
      Chitose International Forum
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 海面活性剤による植物の花弁と葉の透明化2019

    • Author(s)
      荒川 卓巳、大崎 百花、若林 龍太、Olaf Karthaus
    • Organizer
      2019年度北海道高分子若手研究会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report

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Published: 2019-04-18   Modified: 2025-01-30  

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