Abstract:

Nature’s multi-porous architectures in micro and nano scale were proved to enhance light harvesting. In order to enhance the light harvesting efficiency of TiO₂ and improve its photo catalytic property, TiO₂ replicas with the wing scale architecture of the butterfly Papilio maackii were synthesized by a bio-template immerse  and  calcine method. The replicas inherited from the template both the inversed V shaped ridges and the nano pore arrays worked together and could enhance the light harvesting efficiency by making an ordered scattering and refraction pathway for the incident light. The photocatalytic properties of  wing architecture TiO₂ replicas were tested, and the results showed an obvious improvement compared to normal TiO₂ particles.
 

Key words: TiO₂, photo catalytic, bio-inspired, mulit-porous architecture, bio-template immerse &, calcine method