Structural absorption by barbule microstructures of super black bird of paradise feathers

Many studies have shown how pigments and internal nanostructures generate color in nature. External surface structures can also influence appearance, such as by causing multiple scattering of light (structural absorption) to produce a velvety, super black appearance. Here we show that feathers from five species of birds of paradise (Aves: Paradisaeidae) structurally absorb incident light to produce extremely low-reflectance, super black plumages. Directional reflectance of these feathers (0.05-0.31%) approaches that of man-made ultra-absorbent materials. SEM, nano-CT, and ray-tracing simulations show that super black feathers have titled arrays of highly modified barbules, which cause more multiple scattering,…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 41887, 1541959
• UD
  U.S. Department of Defense
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: 1523857, 41887
• YU
  Yale University
• HU
  Harvard University

  Award: 1541959
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: 41887, 1523857
• ND
  National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate

  Award: 1541959
• DO
  Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems

  Award: 1541959
• AN
  Argonne National Laboratory

  Awards: 41887, 1523857